[Intraoperative bacterial contamination and posttraumatic wound infection (author's transl)].

In a consecutive series of 150 fractures treated surgically 16 wound infections were observed. Evaluating the intraoperative wound swabs, type and localisation of the fractures, duration of operation and tourniquet time it was tried retrospectively to find a relationship to these posttraumatic wound infections. The highest rate of infection was found in fractures of the tibia. Open fractures had a higher risk than closed ones. Furthermore, a prolonged duration of operation was related to a rising risk of infection. The intraoperative wound swabs themselves did not allow any conclusion concerning the risk of postoperative infection. Postoperative wound infections appeared nearly as frequent after negative as after positive intraoperative swab. Only the species of bacterias found intraoperatively allowed a conclusion concerning subsequent wound infection so far that after an intraoperative finding of gram-negative bacterias and - surprisingly - apathogenic sporogenic bacterias postoperative wound infections were observed more frequently than after finding other bacterias. In summary, however, the routine intraoperative wound swab does not seem to be suitable as a sreening-test for early recognation of impending postoperative wound infections.