Scalp flora in Indian patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors – Implications for pre-surgical site preparation and surgical site infection

Introduction Causation of surgical site infection (SSI) following craniotomy is multifactorial. Most preventive strategies (including site preparation and antibiotic prophylaxis) revolve around reducing preoperative contamination of the local site. There is little evidence, however, linking site con...

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Main Authors: Aliasgar V. Moiyadi, Umesh Sumukhi, Prakash M. Shetty, Sanjay Biswas, Rohini S. Kelkar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2012-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Neurosurgery
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Online Access:http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/2277-9167.94367
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author Aliasgar V. Moiyadi
Umesh Sumukhi
Prakash M. Shetty
Sanjay Biswas
Rohini S. Kelkar
author_facet Aliasgar V. Moiyadi
Umesh Sumukhi
Prakash M. Shetty
Sanjay Biswas
Rohini S. Kelkar
author_sort Aliasgar V. Moiyadi
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Causation of surgical site infection (SSI) following craniotomy is multifactorial. Most preventive strategies (including site preparation and antibiotic prophylaxis) revolve around reducing preoperative contamination of the local site. There is little evidence, however, linking site contamination with postoperative infections. This is important given the preference for performing non-shaved cranial surgery. We undertook a prospective study to document the scalp flora in neurosurgical patients in an Indian setting and to assess possible association with SSI. Materials and Methods A prospective study recruited 45 patients undergoing non-shaved clean craniotomies for various brain tumors. Standard perioperative procedures and antibiotic policy were employed. Prior to and immediately following the pre-surgical scrubbing, we collected swabs and evaluated their growth qualitatively. SSI was documented adhering to CDC guidelines. The association of swab-positivity with various parameters (including SSI) was evaluated. Results Pre-scrub positivity was seen in 18 of 44 patients, three of them developed subsequent SSI. Most were known skin contaminants. Five patients had swab positivity after scrubbing, though none of these developed any SSI. Four of these five had pre-scrub positivity. In three the same organisms persisted (two being Staphylococcus aureus), and one had different growth post-scrub, whereas one patient developed new growth (contaminant mycelial fungus) in the post-scrub swab. We did not find any association between swab positivity and SSI. Swab positivity was also not related to hair-length or hygiene. Conclusion Scalp flora in Indian patients is similar to that described. Pre-surgical preparation does not always eliminate this contamination (especially staphylococcus). However, this does not necessarily translate into increased SSI. Moreover, the results also provide objective evidence to support the performance of non-shaved cranial surgery without an undue risk of SSI.
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spelling doaj-art-e174ead47c8f43c4a50ea08be8a3d56d2025-08-20T02:21:38ZengThieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.Indian Journal of Neurosurgery2277-954X2277-91672012-01-01010102803210.4103/2277-9167.94367Scalp flora in Indian patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors – Implications for pre-surgical site preparation and surgical site infectionAliasgar V. MoiyadiUmesh Sumukhi0Prakash M. ShettySanjay Biswas1Rohini S. Kelkar2Microbiology, Neurosurgery ServicesMicrobiology, Neurosurgery ServicesMicrobiology, Neurosurgery ServicesIntroduction Causation of surgical site infection (SSI) following craniotomy is multifactorial. Most preventive strategies (including site preparation and antibiotic prophylaxis) revolve around reducing preoperative contamination of the local site. There is little evidence, however, linking site contamination with postoperative infections. This is important given the preference for performing non-shaved cranial surgery. We undertook a prospective study to document the scalp flora in neurosurgical patients in an Indian setting and to assess possible association with SSI. Materials and Methods A prospective study recruited 45 patients undergoing non-shaved clean craniotomies for various brain tumors. Standard perioperative procedures and antibiotic policy were employed. Prior to and immediately following the pre-surgical scrubbing, we collected swabs and evaluated their growth qualitatively. SSI was documented adhering to CDC guidelines. The association of swab-positivity with various parameters (including SSI) was evaluated. Results Pre-scrub positivity was seen in 18 of 44 patients, three of them developed subsequent SSI. Most were known skin contaminants. Five patients had swab positivity after scrubbing, though none of these developed any SSI. Four of these five had pre-scrub positivity. In three the same organisms persisted (two being Staphylococcus aureus), and one had different growth post-scrub, whereas one patient developed new growth (contaminant mycelial fungus) in the post-scrub swab. We did not find any association between swab positivity and SSI. Swab positivity was also not related to hair-length or hygiene. Conclusion Scalp flora in Indian patients is similar to that described. Pre-surgical preparation does not always eliminate this contamination (especially staphylococcus). However, this does not necessarily translate into increased SSI. Moreover, the results also provide objective evidence to support the performance of non-shaved cranial surgery without an undue risk of SSI.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/2277-9167.94367non-shaved neurosurgerypreoperative preparationpostcraniotomy infectionscalp flora
spellingShingle Aliasgar V. Moiyadi
Umesh Sumukhi
Prakash M. Shetty
Sanjay Biswas
Rohini S. Kelkar
Scalp flora in Indian patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors – Implications for pre-surgical site preparation and surgical site infection
Indian Journal of Neurosurgery
non-shaved neurosurgery
preoperative preparation
postcraniotomy infection
scalp flora
title Scalp flora in Indian patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors – Implications for pre-surgical site preparation and surgical site infection
title_full Scalp flora in Indian patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors – Implications for pre-surgical site preparation and surgical site infection
title_fullStr Scalp flora in Indian patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors – Implications for pre-surgical site preparation and surgical site infection
title_full_unstemmed Scalp flora in Indian patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors – Implications for pre-surgical site preparation and surgical site infection
title_short Scalp flora in Indian patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors – Implications for pre-surgical site preparation and surgical site infection
title_sort scalp flora in indian patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors implications for pre surgical site preparation and surgical site infection
topic non-shaved neurosurgery
preoperative preparation
postcraniotomy infection
scalp flora
url http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/2277-9167.94367
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