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Surgical Humidification (HumiGardTM) Reduces Bacterial Load in an Open Spine Animal Infection Model
John Cunningham1, Simon Manners2, Minah Kim3
1Epworth Richmond, Neuroscience Institute, Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.
Global Spine Journal
|August 1, 2026
Summary
Maintaining surgical wound warmth and humidity with HumiGard significantly reduced bacterial growth and advanced healing in a porcine spine surgery model, potentially lowering surgical site infection risk.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Innovation
- Infection Control
- Wound Healing Research
Background:
- Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a significant complication.
- Evaporative cooling of surgical wounds is an overlooked factor.
- HumiGard delivers warm, humidified air to intraoperative wound beds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate HumiGard's potential to reduce bacterial load.
- To assess the impact of HumiGard on bacterial growth in a porcine spine surgery model.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled study using a porcine spine surgery model.
- Wounds were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus.
- Wounds were exposed to ambient conditions (control) or HumiGard for 180 minutes.
- Muscle biopsies were collected 3 days post-surgery for bacterial and histological analysis.
Main Results:
- Staphylococcus aureus growth was 84% lower in HumiGard-treated muscles (p=0.041).
- HumiGard reduced bacterial infiltration into deeper tissues.
- HumiGard group showed a lower neutrophil proportion (34%) and higher mononuclear cell proportion (66%), indicating a shift towards reparative healing.
Conclusions:
- Maintaining physiological temperature and humidity during open surgery reduced bacterial growth.
- HumiGard advanced the wound healing process in this animal model.
- HumiGard may reduce the risk of SSIs in open spine surgery.
