Bacterial contamination of suction tips used during surgical procedures performed on dogs and cats

Objective-To determine prevalence of bacterial contamination of surgical su ction tips. Sample Population-Surgical tips used during 44 surgical procedures performe d on 42 dogs and 2 cats. Procedure-Surgical procedures were classified into 1 of 3 categories accord ing to degree of bacterial contamination of the surgical site (clean, clean -contaminated, contaminated). Two sets of suction apparatus es were used fo r test and control suction tips. Test tips were used normally to suction bl ood and fluid, whereas control tips were placed on the surgical drapes but not in the surgical wound. Suction tips were collected aseptically and plac ed into thioglycolate broth tubes for qualitative aerobic and anaerobic bac terial culture at the end of each procedure. Results-Test and control suction tips were contaminated with bacteria durin g 30 of 44 (68%) procedures. Staphylococcus spp were the predominant bacter ia in tips used during clean and clean-contaminated surgeries. When surgery was performed on clean-contaminated or contaminated wounds, prevalence of isolation of other bacteria such as Pseudomonas spp, Streptococcus spp, and Escherichia coil from both test and control suction tips was higher than f or clean wounds. Mean time of procedures during which both test and control suction tips became contaminated was not significantly different from time of procedures during which neither tip became contaminated. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance-Surgical suction tips often become contam inated during standard veterinary surgical procedures. The risk of wound in fection after surgery may be influenced by bacterial contamination of surgi cal suction tips.