title: Survey of Intraoperative Bacterial Contamination in Dogs Undergoing Elective Orthopedic Surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the frequency, source, and risk factors of intraoperative (IO) surgeon and patient bacterial contamination during clean orthopedic surgeries, and to investigate the relationship between IO contamination and surgical site infection (SSI) in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Client-owned dogs undergoing stifle surgery (n = 100).
  
  
  METHODS
  IO cultures were taken in each case from surgical foot wrap, peri-incisional skin, surgical gloves, and the surgical team's hands. The environment (operating room [OR] lights, computers, scrub sink faucet, anesthesia gurney, and radiology table) was sampled every 5 months. Bacteria were identified and the contamination of each case was categorized. All gloves from the surgical team were collected and tested for perforations using a water infusion test. Cases were followed for at least 8 weeks to determine the presence or absence of SSI. Perioperative variables were evaluated for association with IO contamination and SSI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bacterial isolates were yielded from 81% of procedures from 1 or more sources; 58% had positive hand cultures, 46% had positive glove cultures, 23% had positive patient skin cultures, and 12% had positive foot wrap cultures. Staphylococcus spp. was the most commonly recovered bacteria. There was no apparent association between IO contamination and SSI. The highest level of environmental contamination was associated with the scrub sink faucet, followed by the radiology table, anesthesia gurney, and OR computers. The IO glove perforation rate was 18%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clean orthopedic procedures commonly had clinically insignificant bacterial contamination. In our study, bacteria responsible for SSI did not appear to colonize the patient in the OR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery.
authors.forename: Chad W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Schmiedt
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cornell
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery.
authors.forename: MaryAnn G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Radlinsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heidingsfelder
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery.
authors.forename: Whitney D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Hinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013264:Stifle / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires