Journal Summary 3

In Vitro Antimicrobial Evaluation of Coated VICRYL^® Plus Antibacterial Suture (Coated Polyglactin 910 Suture with Triclosan) Using Zone of Inhibition Assays

A synthetic absorbable suture with antimicrobial properties has been developed by adding triclosan to the current coating of Coated VICRYL^® (polyglactin 910) Suture. This study by Rothenburger evaluated the ability of this suture to inhibit the growth of wild-type and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis in several in vitro models. Over a range of suture diameters and treatment conditions, the coated polyglactin 910 suture with triclosan consistently inhibited microbial growth.

Moreover, this antibacterial effect was robust and did not diminish when the sutures were placed in an aqueous environment for up to 7 days. Knotted suture also inhibited bacterial colonization after repeated inoculation. Suture material is often passed multiple times through tissue and, importantly, antimicrobial activity was maintained following 5 and 10 passes through subcutaneous and facial tissue. These data, obtained using well-established in vitro models, clearly demonstrate that the coated polyglactin 910 suture with triclosan has a robust antimicrobial effect capable of preventing suture colonization by bacterial species commonly associated with wound infections.

Rothenburger A, Spangler D, Bhende S, Burkley D. Surgical Infections. 2002;3:S79-S87.

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