Background An allogeneic human skin graft is a temporary biologic dressing used in extensive burns that can be a providential treatment for affected patients. Skin quality depends directly on its microbial decontamination after processing in a tissue bank. Our objective was to describe the skin donor profiles in relation to the analysis of the microbial colonization of the donated skin.Methods This clinical study includes epidemiological and microbiological data on skin donors from 2012 to 2014. The donor information database was compiled from the medical records of skin donors filed in the tissue bank. The donors were assessed regarding the microbial colonization of the skin at the time of processing in the tissue bank. Results We found a statistically significant association (P = 0.020) between lower average age of the donor and the presence of microbial colonization. We observed that Gramnegative bacteria (GNB) are associated with male gender (P = 0.015), source hospital A (P = 0.034), and over 7 days stay in an intensive care unit (ICU) (P = 0.001). We also observed that Staphylococcus aureus is associated with skin-harvesting hospital C (P = 0.034) and that Gram-positive bacilli (GPB) are associated with up to 7 days stay in an ICU (P = 0.009).
ConclusionsWe found significant associations between the type of microorganism colonizing the skin and the epidemiological and clinical profiles of the donors. This information is extremely important when determining the potential use of skin source and so optimizing the donation of allogeneic skin for transplantation.
Burkholderia cenocepacia may cause serious infections in patients with cystic fibrosis, and this microorganism can be highly transmissible. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis is widely used to study the dynamics of strain spread in cystic fibrosis patients. The aim of this work was to perform pulsed-field gel electrophoresis-based molecular typing of B. cenocepacia isolates to evaluate the epidemiology of this species at our hospital. A total of 28 isolates from 23 cystic fibrosis patients were analyzed. Initially, we compared isolates obtained from the same patient at different periods of time. We then compared the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles of 15 IIIA isolates, and in a third analysis, evaluated the genetic profile of 8 IIIB isolates from different patients. The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles of isolates from the same patient indicated that they are genetically indistinguishable. Analysis of isolates from different patients revealed the presence of multiple clonal groups. These results do not indicate cross-transmission of a unique clone of B. cenocepacia among cystic fibrosis patients, although this has been observed in some patients. Our findings highlight the importance of adequate patient follow-up at cystic fibrosis centers and adherence to management and segregation measures in cystic fibrosis patients colonized with B. cenocepacia.
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