Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026
Subcellular Fractionation from Fresh and Frozen Gastrointestinal Specimens
Published on: July 15, 2018
Microbial contamination assessment of cryostored autogenous cranial bone flaps: should bone biopsies or swabs be
Ivan P Bhaskar1, Timothy J J Inglis, Jacintha Bowman
1Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia. ivanbpaul@gmail.com
Background:
Autogenous cranioplasty infection requiring bone flap removal is under-recognised as a major complication causing significant morbidity. Microbial contamination of stored bone flaps may be a significant contributing factor. Current infection control practices and storage procedures vary. It is not known whether 'superficial' swabs or bone cultures provide a more accurate assessment.
Method:
Twenty-five skull flaps that were cryo-stored for more than 6 months were studied. Two swab samples (superficial and deep) and a bone biopsy sample were taken from each skull flap sample and cultured. Half blood agar and half chocolate agar plates were inoculated with the swabs for anaerobic and aerobic cultures respectively. The bone biopsy samples were cultured in brain-heart broth and subcultured similar to the swabs for 5 days.
Results:
Incidence of microbial contamination was 20 % in the bone flaps studied. One swab culture and five bone biopsy cultures were positive for bacterial growth, all of which contained Propionibacterium acnes (p = 0.014). Positive cultures were from bone flaps stored less than 18 months, whereas no growth was obtained from bone flaps that were stored longer (p = 0.014).
Conclusions:
Bone biopsy culture is a more sensitive technique of assessing microbial contamination of cryo-stored autogenous bone flaps than swab cultures. The clinical implications of in vitro demonstration of microbial contamination require further study.
Insights
Bone biopsy cultures are more effective than swabs for detecting microbial contamination in cryo-stored bone flaps, identifying Propionibacterium acnes in 20% of samples. This finding is crucial for preventing cranioplasty infections.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Infectious Diseases
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Cranioplasty infection after bone flap removal is a significant complication.
- Microbial contamination of cryo-stored bone flaps may contribute to infection.
- Current methods for assessing bone flap contamination vary.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the sensitivity of swab cultures versus bone biopsy cultures in detecting microbial contamination of cryo-stored autogenous bone flaps.
- To identify the microorganisms present in contaminated bone flaps.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-five cryo-stored skull bone flaps (stored >6 months) were analyzed.
- Superficial and deep swab samples and bone biopsy samples were collected from each flap.
- Samples were cultured aerobically and anaerobically to assess microbial growth.
Main Results:
- Microbial contamination was detected in 20% of the bone flaps.
- Propionibacterium acnes was the only identified microorganism, found in 5 bone biopsy cultures.
- Contamination was more frequent in flaps stored for less than 18 months.
Conclusions:
- Bone biopsy culture is a more sensitive method for detecting microbial contamination in cryo-stored bone flaps compared to swab cultures.
- The clinical significance of in vitro microbial contamination requires further investigation.
More Related Videos
06:18Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains
Published on: November 30, 2021
06:42Optimization of Breast Biopsy and Mastectomy Sample Collection Procedures for Biobanking, Personalized Medicine, and Research Applications
Published on: September 2, 2025