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Published on: February 9, 2011

Microbiology and management of post-surgical wounds infection in children

Itzhak Brook1

  • 1dribrook@yahoo.com

Pediatric Rehabilitation
|February 13, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Anaerobic bacteria are increasingly recognized in pediatric infections, particularly in post-surgical wounds (PSW). Wound flora often correlates with nearby mucous membranes, guiding antimicrobial selection for effective treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatric Surgery

Background:

  • Anaerobic bacteria are increasingly implicated in pediatric infections.
  • Post-surgical wounds (PSW) in children can harbor complex polymicrobial flora.
  • Understanding the specific microbial profiles of PSW is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the microbial composition of pediatric post-surgical wounds.
  • To correlate wound flora with anatomical location and adjacent mucosal sites.
  • To inform antimicrobial strategies for managing pediatric PSW.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized adequate methods for aerobic and anaerobic bacterial recovery.
  • Analyzed wound swabs from pediatric patients undergoing various surgeries.
  • Correlated isolated microorganisms with surgical site and proximity to mucous membranes.

Main Results:

  • Polymicrobial aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were isolated from over half of PSW patients.
  • Staphylococcus aureus and aerobic gram-negative bacilli were common across all sites.
  • Wound flora composition correlated with anatomical location: gut flora organisms (e.g., Enteric Gram-negative rods, Bacteroides fragilis) in gut-related wounds, and oral flora organisms (e.g., Streptococcus spp., Fusobacterium spp.) in oral-proximal wounds.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric post-surgical wound infections involve diverse polymicrobial flora.
  • Microbial composition is site-specific, reflecting adjacent mucosal flora.
  • Antimicrobial therapy for PSW should target polymicrobial organisms based on wound location.

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