Contamination of the surgical field in head and neck oncologic surgery. Issue 10 (14th November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mazurek, Maciej J.; Rysz, Maciej; Jaworowski, Janusz; Nowakowski, Filip; Krajewski, Romuald; Starościak, Stanisław; Pietras, Marek; Polowniak–Pracka, Hanna; Włodarczyk, Artur
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 36:Issue 10(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1408
• Page End: 1412
• Publication Date: 2013-11-14
• Subjects: Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.23473
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="hed23473-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>The purpose of this study was to determine the timing and type of surgical field contamination in 50 consecutive resections for advanced head and neck cancer with same‐stage tissue reconstruction and to analyze the relationship between contamination and the surgical site infection.</p> </sec> <sec id="hed23473-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Swabs from the surgical field and from surgical drapes close to the field were taken every 2 hours (at 0 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, and 6 hours) and sent for a standard microbiological diagnostic procedure. Results were recorded in Microsoft Excel and analyzed with SPSS.</p> </sec> <sec id="hed23473-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>We collected 336 swabs of which 71% were contaminated. Polymicrobial contamination was observed in 153 samples (45%). Twenty‐six species of pathogens were found, the most frequent was Streptococcus species. Surgical site infection with positive culture occurred in 3 patients.</p> </sec> <sec id="hed23473-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>In head and neck surgery for advanced cancer, standard aseptic procedures do not prevent contamination of the surgical field with physiological bacterial flora of the skin and oral cavity. Although contamination was common, surgical site infection was rare. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. <italic>Head Neck</italic>, 36: 1408–1412, 2014</p> </sec> </abstract>