Microbiologic counts during outpatient office-based cutaneous surgery.

Abstract

This study used microbiologic counts to evaluate bacterial contamination during cutaneous surgeries of the head and neck. Aerobic bacterial counts of the surgical field in cases with immediate closure (group A, n = 10 patients) and prolonged procedures such as Mohs micrographic surgery (group B, n = 15 patients) were performed three times during the operation. Cultures were taken before antiseptic application, 30 seconds after application, and before closure. Each group showed a statistically significant reduction in aerobic bacteria both 30 seconds after antiseptic application and before closure. All aerobic bacterial counts at both intervals were less than 100,000 colony-forming units/cm2 in each group. The consistent reduction in aerobic bacteria suggests that a clean technique for the two classes of office operating room surgeries provides low-risk conditions for infection in relatively healthy patients.