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Rhys-Davies Exsanguinator: A Haven for Bacteria

From the Departments of Orthopaedics and Microbiology, Leighton Hospital, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 4QJ, UK

Correspondence: M.S.G. Ballal, C/O Mr. T. Redfern, Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery. Leighton Hospital, Middlewich Road, Crewe CW1 4QJ, UK. Tel.: 01270612258; fax: 01270612043. E-mail:dr_moez{at}yahoo.co.uk

Serial swabs were taken from the inner and outer surfaces of a new Rhys-Davies exsanguinator before and after use on the limbs of patients to exsanguinate limbs prior to tourniquet inflation and surgery. Both surfaces of the exsanguinator showed increasing levels of contamination with bacterial colonisation with use starting from the first use. The organisms grown included potentially harmful bacteria such as Pseudomonas sp. The Rhys-Davies exsanguinator can harbour potentially harmful organisms and, thus, may raise the risk of infection transmission between patients when used without cleaning between uses. Methods of effective cleaning of the exsanguinator between uses are discussed.

Key Words: Rhys-Davies • exsanguinators • infection • decontamination

Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Vol. 32, No. 4, 452-456 (2007)
DOI: 10.1016/J.JHSB.2007.02.011


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