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Bacterial contamination of the surgical knife
Abstract:
Two hundred and eight skin knives and 374 deep knives were evaluated in 153 clean orthopedic cases with and without a horizontal wall-less laminar air-flow system. There was no statistical difference in contamination frequency between the skin and the deep knives with and without the laminar air-flow. However, the knife blades were found to be contaminated less than laminar air-flow was used than when it was not (P less than 0.005). No correlation could be made between the cultures of the wound edges and the depth of the wound with the contaminated knife blades.
Insights
Horizontal wall-less laminar air-flow systems did not affect orthopedic surgery knife contamination rates. However, knife blades showed reduced contamination when the system was used, suggesting its benefit in maintaining sterile surgical environments.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Infection Control
- Surgical Instrumentation
Background:
- Surgical site infections remain a concern in orthopedic procedures.
- The efficacy of laminar air-flow systems in reducing surgical instrument contamination is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of horizontal wall-less laminar air-flow systems on the contamination frequency of skin and deep knives in orthopedic surgery.
- To determine if knife contamination correlates with wound edge cultures or wound depth.
Main Methods:
- 153 clean orthopedic cases were analyzed.
- Skin knives (n=208) and deep knives (n=374) were assessed.
- Comparison was made between procedures with and without a horizontal wall-less laminar air-flow system.
Main Results:
- No statistical difference in contamination frequency was observed between skin and deep knives, with or without the laminar air-flow system.
- A statistically significant reduction in knife blade contamination was found when the laminar air-flow system was utilized (P < 0.005).
- No correlation was established between wound edge cultures or wound depth and contaminated knife blades.
Conclusions:
- Horizontal wall-less laminar air-flow systems may help reduce knife blade contamination in orthopedic surgery.
- The system's presence did not alter the overall contamination frequency between different knife types or in relation to wound characteristics.