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Evaluation of bacterial infection of split-thickness skin grafts at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital



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.

 

Keywords: Split skin Graft Take of graft Graft Failure Infection Prophylactic antibiotics

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How to Cite

Nsaful, K. O., Paintsil, A. B., Dakubo, J. C. B., Nsaful, J., Appiah-Labi, K., & Nartey, E. (2020). Evaluation of bacterial infection of split-thickness skin grafts at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Bali Medical Journal, 9(1), 259–265. https://doi.org/10.15562/bmj.v9i1.1760
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Kwesi Okumanin Nsaful
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Albert B. Paintsil
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Jonathan C. B. Dakubo
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Josephine Nsaful
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Kwaku Appiah-Labi
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Edmund Nartey
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