THE BACTERIAL COLONISATION OF SILICONE OIL USED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF WOUNDS OF THE HANDS — A SOURCE OF NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION?

For 30 years, silicone oil has been used for the management and rehabilitation of the injured hand. Its benefits accrue from its providing a non-irritant, bland, air-free medium in which the hand can undergo early movement, which prevents drying out of the tissues and helps in the separation of necrotic and infected tissue. It has been reported, however, that the silicone oil might act as a reservoir for nosocomial infection after two patients developed epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (EMRSA) infections. Since no firm guidelines exist with regard to open and/or infected wounds and the continued use of the same oil, a prospective study was set up to study the bacterial colonisation of the silicone oil. Thirty-five consecutive patients were entered into the study. The oil for each patient was changed each week but if any wound became clinically infected the oil was changed earlier. Treatment was continued until the wound was healed or until the treatment was stopped by the referring doctor. Bacteriology swabs taken from the wound and the oil before each treatment and from the oil after each treatment were analysed for bacterial colonisation. The results indicated that while bacteria were transferred into the oil from the wound, the inoculum was small and had no effect on wound healing. There was no evidence that wounds were being re-infected from the oil. The conclusion was that silicone oil remains a safe medium in which to exercise injured hands.