[Culture from peritoneal drainage as an indicator of active infection]

The present retrospective study reports the results of a survey conducted on 130 patients given elective abdominal and urinary surgery together with the cultivation of routine intraperitoneal drainage material. The parameters considered were the type of pathology, the condition of the wound, any serohaematic material drained, the presence and duration of postoperative temperature increases and pre and post-operative leukocytosis levels. These parameters were considered in relation to the positive or negative results of the cultural examination. The aim was to demonstrate that routine drainage causes no appreciable infective or mechanical complications.