A thermal glass bead device provides an effective method of rapid disinfection of suture scissor blades in a veterinary environment.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of glass bead disinfection on suture scissor blades following suture removal.

Methods: Patients presented to the surgery department at a private veterinary referral hospital for suture removal from a healed, nongrossly infected skin incision with more than 3 skin sutures from November 2024 through March 2025 were included. Paired pre- and post-glass bead disinfection samples were obtained from the blades of used suture scissors before and after 60-second disinfection with a commercially available glass bead disinfection device. The paired samples were evaluated for bacterial identification, bacterial quantification, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Frequency distributions (proportions) were reported, as appropriate, with 95% binomial exact CIs. Paired proportions were compared with the McNemar exact test.

Results: Suture scissors used on 41 patients (38 dogs and 3 cats) were included in this study. There were 82 (41 paired) cultures performed. Fourteen of 41 predisinfection cultures (34.1%; 95% CI, 20.1% to 50.6%) had bacterial growth. Bacterial growth was not identified on any postdisinfection cultures (0.0%; 95% CI, 0.0% to 8.6%). Staphylococcus spp were the most frequent organisms (9 of 14 [64%]; 95% CI, 35% to 87%), with 4 isolates being a methicillin-resistant subtype.

Conclusions: Glass bead disinfection is a quick and effective means for disinfecting the blades of suture scissors in veterinary practice.

Clinical relevance: Glass bead disinfection may be a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to true sterilization for lowering the risks of cross-contamination associated with the use of suture scissors in a veterinary setting.