Microbiological assessment of cadaver skin grafts received in a Skin Bank.
OBJECTIVE
Study on the microbiological assessment of cadaver skin grafts was undertaken in the Skin Bank at the Department of Surgery in L.T.M. Medical College and Hospital, Mumbai, India.


METHODS
Microbiology of the skin grafts was studied immediately on receipt and after antibiotic treatment. The antimicrobial and antifungal agents used were crystalline penicillin, gentamicin, amikacin, ceftazidime and amphotericin B.


RESULTS
Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida species were the predominant microorganisms isolated on pre-processing cultures from cadaver skin grafts. Seventy percent of pre-processing cultures showed growth. After first cycle antibiotic treatment, 52.4% of grafts showing growth became sterile. Growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae persisted in two cases, even after 2nd cycle of antibiotic treatment. After the use of antifungal, 57.1% of those showing fungal growth became sterile.


CONCLUSIONS
Various antibiotics and antifungals can be used in order to minimize the discard rate of skin grafts.
Mathur
Meenakshi
M
Department of Microbiology, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital, Sion, Mumbai, India.
De
Anuradha
A
Gore
Madhuri
M
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002102:Cadaver; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents