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The bacteriology of children before primary cleft lip and palate surgery

C B Chuo1, M J Timmons

  • 1Plastic Surgery, Bradford Royal Infirmary, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal : Official Publication of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
|May 4, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Children undergoing cleft lip and palate surgery often carry Staphylococcus aureus, posing a surgical risk. Preoperative screening for bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and beta-hemolytic streptococcus is crucial for managing infection risk.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Microbiology
  • Craniofacial Anomalies

Background:

  • Bacterial infections are a significant complication in pediatric surgical procedures.
  • Understanding the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in children with cleft lip and palate is essential for effective risk management.
  • This includes determining the necessity of prophylactic antibiotic administration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the preoperative bacteriology of children scheduled for primary cleft lip and palate surgery.
  • To identify common bacterial flora in this patient population.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective analysis was conducted on microbiological swabs (nose, throat, ear) from children aged 1-26 months.
  • Swabs were collected prior to primary cleft lip, palate, or combined lip/palate repair.
  • Positive results were defined by the presence of Staphylococcus aureus or beta-hemolytic streptococcus.

Main Results:

  • Out of 326 preoperative swabs analyzed from 250 patients, 91 (27.9%) were positive for target bacteria.
  • Staphylococcus aureus was identified in 86 positive swabs (approximately 94.5% of positive results).
  • Beta-hemolytic streptococcus was detected in 10 positive swabs (approximately 11% of positive results).

Conclusions:

  • Children with unrepaired cleft lip and palate exhibit a notable prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus carriage.
  • There is a smaller but present risk of carrying beta-hemolytic streptococci.
  • These findings underscore the importance of considering preoperative bacteriology testing and prophylactic antibiotic strategies.
Abstract

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