Abstract
Background
The aim of the study was to compare bacterial accumulation on different suture materials following oral surgery.
Methods
Patients scheduled for implant or periodontal surgery were included in the study. Upon flap closure, four different sutures were placed in a randomized sequence—silk, coated polyglactin, nylon, and polyester. Ten days following surgery, the sutures were removed and incubated in aerobic as well as anaerobic conditions for 7 days and colony-forming units (CFUs) were calculated. Association between bacterial accumulation and periodontal diagnosis, type of surgery, and antibiotic treatment were also tested.
Results
All sutures in all patients were found to contain bacteria. Overall, nylon sutures showed significantly lower CFU levels compared to silk, coated polyglactin, and polyester sutures. The type of surgery (implant vs. periodontal surgery) did not significantly influence bacterial accumulation. Also, periodontal diagnosis had little impact on CFU counts. Interestingly, post-surgical antibiotic treatment also had only a minor effect on bacterial accumulation on the various sutures.
Discussion
The results indicate that the monofilamentous nylon sutures showed less microbial accumulation than the other tested materials that were all braided. This effect may be due to material qualities as well as suture macrostructure. Type of surgery, periodontal diagnosis, and antibiotic consumption have little effect on bacterial accumulation of sutures.
Clinical relevance
The study provides the microbial profile of commonly used sutures and may assist in suture selection during clinical procedures.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burkhardt R, Lang NP (2015) Influence of suturing on wound healing. Periodontology 2000 68 (1):270–281. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/prd.12078
Banche G, Roana J, Mandras N, Amasio M, Gallesio C, Allizond V, Angeretti A, Tullio V, Cuffini AM (2007) Microbial adherence on various intraoral suture materials in patients undergoing dental surgery. J Oral Maxillofacial Surgery : Official J Am Assoc Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons 65(8):1503–1507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joms.2006.10.066
Leknes KN, Roynstrand IT, Selvig KA (2005) Human gingival tissue reactions to silk and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures. J Periodontol 76(1):34–42. https://doi.org/10.1902/jop.2005.76.1.34
Selvig KA, Biagiotti GR, Leknes KN, Wikesjo UM (1998) Oral tissue reactions to suture materials. Int J periodontics Restorative Dentistry 18(5):474–487
Grigg TR, Liewehr FR, Patton WR, Buxton TB, McPherson JC (2004) Effect of the wicking behavior of multifilament sutures. J Endod 30(9):649–652
Katz S, Izhar M, Mirelman D (1981) Bacterial adherence to surgical sutures. A possible factor in suture induced infection. Ann Surg 194(1):35–41
Armitage GC (1999) Development of a classification system for periodontal diseases and conditions. Annals Periodontology 4(1):1–6. https://doi.org/10.1902/annals.1999.4.1.1
Masini BD, Stinner DJ, Waterman SM, Wenke JC (2011) Bacterial adherence to suture materials. J Surgical Education 68(2):101–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2010.09.015
Edlich RF, Panek PH, Rodeheaver GT, Turnbull VG, Kurtz LD, Edgerton MT (1973) Physical and chemical configuration of sutures in the development of surgical infection. Ann Surg 177(6):679–688
Justinger C, Moussavian MR, Schlueter C, Kopp B, Kollmar O, Schilling MK (2009) Antibacterial [corrected] coating of abdominal closure sutures and wound infection. Surgery 145(3):330–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2008.11.007
Funding
The study was self-funded. Shvadent Ltd., Israel, contributed the sutures to the study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval
All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
Informed consent
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Asher, R., Chacartchi, T., Tandlich, M. et al. Microbial accumulation on different suture materials following oral surgery: a randomized controlled study. Clin Oral Invest 23, 559–565 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-018-2476-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-018-2476-0