Bacterial migration through punctured surgical gloves under real surgical conditions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to confirm recent results from a previous study focussing on the development of a method to measure the bacterial translocation through puncture holes in surgical gloves under real surgical conditions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An established method was applied to detect bacterial migration from the operating site through the punctured glove. Biogel™ double-gloving surgical gloves were used during visceral surgeries over a 6-month period. A modified Gaschen-bag method was used to retrieve organisms from the inner glove, and thus-obtained bacteria were compared with micro-organisms detected by an intra-operative swab.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In 20 consecutive procedures, 194 gloves (98 outer gloves, 96 inner gloves) were examined. The rate of micro-perforations of the outer surgical glove was 10% with a median wearing time of 100 minutes (range: 20-175 minutes). Perforations occurred in 81% on the non-dominant hand, with the index finger most frequently (25%) punctured. In six cases, bacterial migration could be demonstrated microbiologically. In 5% (5/98) of outer gloves and in 1% (1/96) of the inner gloves, bacterial migration through micro-perforations was observed. For gloves with detected micro-perforations (n = 10 outer layers), the calculated migration was 50% (n = 5). The minimum wearing time was 62 minutes, with a calculated median wearing time of 71 minutes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study confirms previous results that bacterial migration through unnoticed micro-perforations in surgical gloves does occur under real practical surgical conditions. Undetected perforation of surgical gloves occurs frequently. Bacterial migration from the patient through micro-perforations on the hand of surgeons was confirmed, limiting the protective barrier function of gloves if worn over longer periods.</p

Bakterielle Translokation durch Perforationen von chirurgischen Handschuhen unter realen Operationsbedingungen

In Abhängigkeit von der Dauer, der Art und des mechanischen Anspruchs eines operativen Eingriffs kommt es nachweislich zu Perforationen von Operationshandschuhen und damit zu einer Aufhebung der aus infektionsprophylaktischen Gründen erforderlichen intakten Barriere zwischen Operateur bzw. medizinischem Personal und dem Patienten. Dabei spielen intakte Handschuhe nicht nur eine tragende Rolle hinsichtlich des beiderseitigen Schutzes vor durch Blut und andere Körperflüssigkeiten übertragenen Infektionskrankheiten wie HIV, HBV und HCV, sondern auch vor bakteriellen Übertragungen als einer potentiellen Ursache postoperativer Wundinfektionen. Die Perforationsrate von Handschuhen korreliert mit der Tragedauer, wobei eine Vielzahl der Handschuhperforationen nicht sofort oder überhaupt nicht bemerkt wird. Dabei sind Handschuhperforationen überproportional häufig an der nicht dominanten Hand lokalisiert. Im Gesamtergebnis der durchgeführten Untersuchung und einer Vorgänderstudie [1] konnte unter realen Operationsbedingungen eine Gesamtperforationsrate von 18,2 % nachgewiesen werden. Es fanden 12 Bakterientranslokationen, entsprechend einer Translokationsrate von 22,2 %, bezogen auf die Gesamtzahl perforierter Handschuhe, statt und zwar nach einer Tragezeit ab 90 min [1] bzw. in dieser Untersuchung bereits nach 62 min. Das Vorhandensein für bakterielle Erreger permeabler Handschuhperforationen ermöglicht ebenso eine Passage von Viren. Ein regelmäßiger intraoperativer Handschuhwechsel für den viszeralchirurgischen Operateur und/oder double gloving stellen aus den Untersuchungsergebnissen abgeleitete Möglichkeiten dar, die notwendige intakte Barriere aufrecht zu erhalten bzw. wiederherzustellen. Diesbezüglich ist eine Differenzierung zwischen unterschiedlichen chirurgischen Disziplinen und den jeweils unterschiedlichen Aufgaben innerhalb des Operationsteams vorzunehmen, da zwangsläufig erhebliche Unterschiede bei den Perforationsraten bestehen. Das in diesem Zusammenhang untersuchte und aus jeweils doppelt übereinander getragenen Operationshandschuhen bestehende Indikatorsystem erwies sich in der aktuellen Untersuchung als effektiv. Über den Untersuchungszeitraum von einem Jahr zeigte sich eine deutlich zunehmende Verbesserung in der visuellen Detektion von Perforationen durch die einzelnen Mitglieder des Operationsteams, wobei die Erkennungsrate bei 70 % lag. Die Empfehlung eines intraoperativen Handschuhwechsels nach spätestens 90 min für den ersten und zweiten viszeralchirurgischen Operateur sowie nach 150 min für die übrigen Teilnehmer der Operation kann durch die vorliegende Untersuchung untermauert werden. Der intraoperative Einsatz des Indikatorsystems ist aufgrund guter Erkennbarkeit von Perforationen in Verbindung mit erhöhter Sicherheit durch das systemeigene double gloving grundsätzlich zu empfehlen.Depending on duration, special aim, and mechanical requirements during operative procedures, verifiable glove puncture of surgical gloves tends to happen. This leads to the suspension of the intact barrier between operative personnel and patient, however an intact barrier is essential to prevent infections. In this context, intact surgical gloves not only have a major impact on protecting both patient and medical personnel from blood-borne and via body fluid transmitted diseases like HIV, HBV an HCV, but also offer protection from bacterial transmission as a potential cause of surgical site infections (SSI). The rate of defective surgical gloves correlates with duration of wear. That being said, a large number of glove punctures is not immediately recognized or not recognized at all. An unexpectedly large number of glove punctures occur on non-dominant hands. The results of the current and a preliminary study [1] under real surgical conditions showed an overall puncture rate of 18.2 %. 12 Bacterial translocations occurred after a wearing time of 90 min [1] or already after 62 min in this study. That corresponds to 22.2 % in relation to total number of perforated gloves. Existence of perforations permeable for bacteria naturally enables viral passage as well. Accordingly, regular changes of surgical gloves during operative procedures and/or double gloving were derived by this study as sensible options to keep the existing barrier intact or restore it. In that regard, a differentiation between diverse surgical disciplines and respective duties within the surgical team has to be made so as to account for the naturally vast variety of total perforation rates. The tested puncture indication system of double gloving proved to be effective in this study. Over a sample period of one year, an obvious improvement in visual detection of glove puncture by individual members of the surgical team was identified, with a detection rate of 70 %. The recommendation of an intra-operative glove change after 90 min at the latest for the first and second visceral surgeon and after 150 min for the other members of the surgical team is confirmed by the current study. An intra-operative application of the tested double gloving indicator system can be recommended categorically due to its good visual recognition potential associated with increased safety inherent to double gloving

Multi-ancestry genome-wide study identifies effector genes and druggable pathways for coronary artery calcification.

Coronary artery calcification (CAC), a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis, predicts future symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD). Identifying genetic risk factors for CAC may point to new therapeutic avenues for prevention. Currently, there are only four known risk loci for CAC identified from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in the general population. Here we conducted the largest multi-ancestry GWAS meta-analysis of CAC to date, which comprised 26,909 individuals of European ancestry and 8,867 individuals of African ancestry. We identified 11 independent risk loci, of which eight were new for CAC and five had not been reported for CAD. These new CAC loci are related to bone mineralization, phosphate catabolism and hormone metabolic pathways. Several new loci harbor candidate causal genes supported by multiple lines of functional evidence and are regulators of smooth muscle cell-mediated calcification ex vivo and in vitro. Together, these findings help refine the genetic architecture of CAC and extend our understanding of the biological and potential druggable pathways underlying CAC

Multi-ancestry genome-wide study identifies effector genes and druggable pathways for coronary artery calcification

Coronary artery calcification (CAC), a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis, predicts future symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD). Identifying genetic risk factors for CAC may point to new therapeutic avenues for prevention. Currently, there are only four known risk loci for CAC identified from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in the general population. Here we conducted the largest multi-ancestry GWAS meta-analysis of CAC to date, which comprised 26,909 individuals of European ancestry and 8,867 individuals of African ancestry. We identified 11 independent risk loci, of which eight were new for CAC and five had not been reported for CAD. These new CAC loci are related to bone mineralization, phosphate catabolism and hormone metabolic pathways. Several new loci harbor candidate causal genes supported by multiple lines of functional evidence and are regulators of smooth muscle cell-mediated calcification ex vivo and in vitro. Together, these findings help refine the genetic architecture of CAC and extend our understanding of the biological and potential druggable pathways underlying CAC.</p