Antibacterial [corrected] coating of abdominal closure sutures and wound infection.
BACKGROUND
Poor wound healing and the development of infection in incisional wounds continue to be among the most common complications of open abdominal surgery. Various bacteria may contaminate not only the tissue in the operative wound, but also the actual suture material. To prevent the contamination of suture material in surgical wounds, triclosan-coated polyglactin 910 suture materials with antibacterial activity (Vicryl plus) was developed. The aim of this study was to ascertain if the use of Vicryl plus reduced the number of wound infections after midline laparotomy comparing to polydioxanon suture (PDS II).


METHODS
We performed 2,088 operations in our department between October 2004 and September 2006 via midline incision. In the first time period (TP1), a PDS II loop suture was used. In the second time period (TP2), we used Vicryl plus. All variables were recorded prospectively in a database. The primary outcome was the number of wound infections. Risk factors for poor wound healing were collected prospectively to compare the 2 groups.


RESULTS
Using a PDS loop suture for abdominal wall closure in TP1, 10.8% of patients with wound infections were detected. The number of patients with wound infections decreased in TP2 using Vicryl plus for abdominal wall closure to 4.9% (P < .001) despite no other changes in protocols of patient care. Other risk factors for the development of site infections were comparable in the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of antibiotic-coated loop suture for abdominal wall closure can decrease the number wound infections after abdominal surgery.
Justinger
Christoph
C
Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Pediatric Surgery, University of Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Moussavian
Mohammed Reza
MR
Schlueter
Christian
C
Kopp
Berit
B
Kollmar
Otto
O
Schilling
Martin Karl
MK
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016687:Polydioxanone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011098:Polyglactin 910 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013537:Sutures; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016687:Polydioxanone; D011098:Polyglactin 910