Background Previous studies have found fewer clinical infections in wounds closed with monofilament suture compared with braided suture. Recently, barbed monofilament sutures have shown improved strength and increased timesavings over interrupted braided sutures. However, the adherence of bacteria to barbed monofilament sutures and other commonly used suture materials is unclear.
Questions/Purposes We therefore determined: (1) the adherence of bacteria to five suture types including a barbed monofilament suture; (2) the ability to culture bacteria after gentle washing of each suture type; and (3) the pattern of bacterial adherence. Methods We created an experimental contaminated wound model using planktonic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Five types of commonly used suture material were used: Vicryl TM , Vicryl TM Plus, PDS TM , PDS TM Plus, and Quill TM . To determine adherence, we determined the number of bacteria removed from the suture by sequential washes. Sutures were plated to determine bacterial growth. Sutures were examined under confocal microscopy to determine adherence patterns. Results The barbed monofilament suture showed the least bacterial adherence of any suture material tested. Inoculated monofilament and barbed monofilament sutures placed on agar plates had less bacterial growth than braided suture, whereas antibacterial monofilament and braided sutures showed no growth. Confocal microscopy showed more adherence to braided suture than to the barbed monofilament or monofilament sutures. Conclusions Barbed monofilament suture showed similar bacterial adherence properties to standard monofilament suture.