Culture came back "aerobic culture, no growth" in T-incision. If there is no infection then what is wrong? (photos)

Question

First, I have been to all of my follow up appts since surgery on May 6th and have even went to see my primary doctor a couple of times who does internal medicine. I have been on antibiotics since surgery and about to finish my last couple of doses of Keflex. My PS said to stay on it to keep it in my system when T incision opened at 9 days. Now at 4 weeks post op & this is what I got. Why isn't it healing and closing up? I was told to just do dry sterile bandages & change out once per day.

Adam J. Oppenheimer, MD, FACS · Answer

Sorry that you are experiencing this complication. It will get better. From the appearance of this wound, it should be completely healed in about 6-8 weeks with debridement (cleaning away the non-viable tissue in clinic by your plastic surgeon) and dressing changes twice daily: nothing special, just saline moistened gauze. The wound developed from poor blood flow. Sometimes this can be the result of smoking, sometimes the result of over aggressive surgical technique, and sometimes complications just happen unfortunately. If this occurred in my clinic I would see you weekly for care. It seems that your surgeon is being responsible by culturing the wound and treating with antibiotics, though it does not appear infected. This will go away with diligence and patience. Hang in there.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Thank you for your picture. You have a simple wound due to a lack of circulation.  This will needs to be debrided gently and use of a wet to dry dressings to help the wound remain clean and heal in on it's on. Discuss other strategies for dealing with this with your plastic surgeon.

Roxanne Sylora, MD · Answer

Accurate cultures are difficult to obtain when someone is taking antibiotics.  It is rare to grow something on culture if a person was on antibiotics when the culture was taken, unless it is an overwhelming infection. (Yours does not seem to be that bad).After this type of wound healing problem, it is usually related to decreased circulation at the T incision, which is not uncommon.  If you are going to have a wound healing problem, this is the most common place.  To help heal this wound, keep it clean.  Make sure to avoid being around any smokers (and if you are a smoker, stop immediately!).  A more aggressive dressing change could be used, such as a wet/dry dressing, or aquacel, or a small debridement (surgical cleaning of wound) by your doctor.  It will heal, but it will take time.  It will need to heal from the inside (deep in the hole) first before the skin starts to close.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

No bacterial growth is good but you have wound edge necrosis and separation... You need aggressive wound care...

Frederic H. Corbin, MD (license restricted) · Answer

Your antibiotic coverage is responsible for the negative cultures but the wounds would healbetter in a moist rather then a dry environment and you should be on silvadene cream or other local antibiotic and then the wounds should be debrided of all necrotic tissue followed by secondary closure over a drain or use of a wound vac.  A wound care specialist not an internist should be caring for your wounds in all due respect!Dr. Corbin

Culture came back "aerobic culture, no growth" in T-incision. If there is no infection then what is wrong? (photos)

Answers (6)

Answer: Culture came back "aerobic culture, no growth" in T-incision. If there is no infection then what is wrong? (photos)

Answer: Culture came back "aerobic culture, no growth" in T-incision. If there is no infection then what is wrong? (photos)

Answer: Wounds

Answer: Wounds

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Culture came back "aerobic culture, no growth" in T-incision. If there is no infection then what is wrong? (photos)

Answers (6)

Answer: Culture came back "aerobic culture, no growth" in T-incision. If there is no infection then what is wrong? (photos)

Answer: Culture came back "aerobic culture, no growth" in T-incision. If there is no infection then what is wrong? (photos)

Answer: Wounds

Answer: Wounds

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Everything you need to know about Breast Reduction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.