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Bone graft contamination from a water de-ionizer during processing in a bone bank
M Farrington1, I Matthews, J Foreman
1Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
The Journal of Hospital Infection
|January 1, 1996
Summary
A Burkholderia cepacia-like organism contaminated bone grafts due to unsterilized de-ionized water. This highlights the importance of sterile water in bone banking to prevent graft and patient infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Medical Device Contamination
Background:
- Bone banking procedures are critical for successful transplantation.
- Ensuring the sterility of biological materials is paramount in preventing post-operative infections.
- Contamination can arise from various sources within the processing environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the source of microbial contamination in processed bone grafts.
- To investigate the role of water de-ionizers in the contamination of sterile medical supplies.
- To emphasize the importance of process control in bone banking.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and identification of the contaminating microorganism from bone graft cultures.
- Tracing the source of contamination within the laboratory processing workflow.
- Microbiological culturing techniques to assess water and bone graft sterility.
Main Results:
- An organism resembling Burkholderia cepacia was identified in six bone graft samples.
- The contamination source was traced to a water de-ionizer used without sterilization.
- A procedural change allowing the use of unsterilized de-ionized water was identified as the cause.
Conclusions:
- Sterilization of water used in bone processing is essential to prevent microbial contamination.
- Bone graft cultures serve as valuable controls for evaluating bone banking processes.
- Adherence to strict sterile techniques is crucial in bone banking to ensure patient safety.