Microorganisms Isolated from Saline Used in Surgical Procedures

Yoon, Hae Sang

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study was undertaken to identify the contaminants of saline and classify microorganisms of saline used in surgical procedures so that an appropriate timing and method of saline exchange could be considered. Forty surgeries performed by a single surgeon at a 1,500-bed hospital were investigated.
METHODS
Samples of 50 mL from the saline used in each operation were collected at each of three stages of the surgical procedure: pre-skin incision, post-specimen incision and skin suture, and the microorganisms of these samples were classified.
RESULTS
The most frequently isolated microorganisms from saline after the exposure to air were coagulase-negative staphylococci, micrococci and non-enterococci. In case of exchanged saline used in surgical procedures, the numbers of coagulase-negative staphylococci, micrococci, Alcaligenes species were decreased than those of unexchanged saline, but Enterococcus, Escherichia coli. Enterobacter agglomerans, Klebsiella species and Pasteurella multocida appeared. Sampling demonstrated that saline used in biliary tract surgery had Enterococcus, Alcaligenes species, E. coli, Enterobacter agglomerans, Klebsiella species and Pasteurella multocida, but saline used in gastrectomy and mastectomy had coagulase-negative staphylococcus and micrococcus.
CONCLUSIONS
The important risk factor for tile contamination of saline used in surgery is not the airborne bacteria of the operating room but contaminated operative tissues. This microbiological study has shown that saline may carry considerable loads of pathogenic organisms. To reduce the possibilities of contamination of saline used to surgery, therefore, both the timing and method of saline exchange should be reconsidered, especially for prolonged surgical procedures and clean-contaminated, contaminated, or dirty/infected operations.