Abstract
Background: Split skin grafts are frequently employed to provide biological cover for extensive wounds. The clinical outcome of skin grafts depends on a variety of factors of which infection is one of the most important. The intent of this study was to define the micro-organisms causing skin graft infections and failures at the National Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre (NRPSBC) at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). Aim: The study assessed the extent to which bacterial infection of grafted wounds resulted in graft failure and subsequent re-grafting. Materials and Methods: The study was a longitudinal study conducted on the wards of the NRPSBC at the KBTH on patients with wounds who received split skin grafts. Wound swabs of discharging grafted wounds were inoculated into a Stuarts’ transport medium to prevent desiccation and transported immediately to the microbiology laboratory for further processing. Results: Fifteen (20.8%) of the grafts failed to take. The incidence of infected grafted wounds was 79.2% (57). Infected grafted wounds that resulted in graft failure were 14 out of 57 infected wounds (24.6%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Other Pseudomonas Species were identified as the bacteria frequently involved in graft failure at the NRPSBC. Conclusion: In this study, we found a graft failure rate of 20.8%. This was influenced by the bacterial load present in the graft bed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 259-265 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Bali Medical Journal |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2020 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Graft Failure
- Infection
- Prophylactic antibiotics
- Split skin Graft
- Take of graft