[Does a correlation exist between positive wound cultures at the end of an operation and later wound and prosthetic sepsis?].

A prospective study was carried out on 51 patients in whom a reconstructive vascular procedure was performed in order to determine whether any correlation between positive wound cultures at the end of the operation and later wound and/or prosthetic sepsis exists. Swabs were taken from all surgical wounds and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic organisms. The patients were monitored for 72-89 months and all instances of wound or prosthetic sepsis thoroughly investigated. The incidence of positive wound cultures was 13%, with a variety of organisms present. No increased incidence of wound or prosthetic sepsis was observed in patients with positive wound cultures. The incidence of wound sepsis was 3.7% and of prosthetic sepsis 2%. No correlation was found between organisms cultured during operation and organisms isolated from septic wounds. The 1 case of prosthetic sepsis (at 19 months postoperatively) was probably due to secondary haematogenous infection.