BACTERIAL-CONTAMINATION OF NYLON CORNEAL SUTURES

We report the findings of a prospective study into the bacterial conta mination of monofilament nylon sutures removed from corneal wounds sur gery, Sutures were classified as broken at the time of removal. Loose and broken sutures showed significantly more bacterial contamination t han tight sutures (p<0.001, chi squared), Positive cultures were obtai ned from 2 (6.2%) of 32 tight sutures, 14 (38.9%) of 36 loose sutures and 11 (37.9%) of 29 broken sutures, Staphylococcus epidermidis was th e most commonly isolated organism (isolated in pure growth from 22 (81 .5%) of 27 positive cultures), These findings may explain the occasion al association of biodegraded corneal monofilament nylon sutures and s uppurative keratitis and highlight the potential risk of seeding a sut ure track infection at the time of suture removal, They also emphasise the need for prophylactic topical antibiotic when removing biodegrade d sutures.