Microbiological assessment of cadaver skin grafts received in a Skin Bank

Purpose: Study on the microbiological assessment of cadaver skin grafts was undertaken in the Skin Bank at the Department of Surgery in L.T.M. Medical College and Hospital, Mumbai, India. Procedure: Microbiology of the skin grafts was studied immediately on receipt and after antibiotic treatment. The antimicrobial and antifungal agents used were crystalline penicillin, gentamicin, amikacin, ceftazidime and amphotericin B. Findings: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida species were the predominant microorganisms isolated on pre-processing cultures from cadaver skin grafts. Seventy percent of pre-processing cultures showed growth. After first cycle antibiotic treatment, 52.4% of grafts showing growth became sterile. Growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae persisted in two cases, even after 2nd cycle of antibiotic treatment. After the use of antifungal, 57.1% of those showing fungal growth became sterile. Conclusion: Various antibiotics and antifungals can be used in order to minimize the discard rate of skin grafts. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.