Antibacterial activity of antiseptic suture materials
Odd Viking Höglund, Gaia Liljeström, Gloria Loko, Ingrid HanssonAbstract
Introduction
Postoperative surgical site infections are common, and sutures combined with antiseptic substance reduce the risk of infection. New antiseptic sutures continue to be introduced on the market. The aim of this study was to investigate whether sutures containing antibacterial substances such as triclosan and chlorhexidine exert an inhibitory effect against common bacterial pathogens.
Methods
Three commercial sutures were used: Monocryl PLUS coated with triclosan, Novosyn CHD coated with chlorhexidine, and plain Monocryl as control. The antibacterial effect was tested against methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSA, MSSA, MRSP and MSSP), as well as E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Sutures were placed on inoculated blood agar plates, and the size of inhibition zones were measured after 24 h. The study was conducted in duplicate analyses in two separate batches.
Results
The size of inhibition zones varied depending on suture and bacterial species. The mean inhibition zones (mm) for Monocryl PLUS were for MRSA 10, MSSA 6, MRSP 8, MSSP 11, E. coli 5, whereas no inhibition zone was observed for P. aeruginosa. The chlorhexidine-coated suture and control showed no effect against any of the tested bacteria.
Discussion
Monocryl PLUS was the only suture that demonstrated an antibacterial effect. The lack of antibacterial activity in Novosyn CHD was unexpected. The antimicrobial effect varied between antiseptic suture products which needs to be considered by the surgeon.