The prevalence of anaerobic infection in pilonidal sinus of the sacrococcygeal region and its effect on the complications.

Bacteriologic characteristics of pilonidal disease of the sacrococcygeal region were assessed in two groups of patients: patients with disease recurrence (group A), and patients who first ever presented for surgical treatment (group B). The frequency of anaerobic colonization was studied. Bacterial colonization is frequently present in patients with pilonidal disease of the sacrococcygeal region. Samples of the skin over the sacrococcygeal sinus showed the presence of bacterial colonization in 78% and 70% of group A and group B patients, respectively. Analysis of sinus fluid samples revealed the presence of bacteria in 88% of group A patients and 78% of group B patients. Anaerobic colonization in the content of pilonidal sinus was found in approximately 2/3 (64%) group A patients and about a half (52%) group B patients. Considerable bacterial colonization was also recorded in skin swab samples, i.e. in 48% of group A patients and 38% of group B patients. Anaerobic bacteria were rarely detected in pure cultures (in group A 6% skin swab, and 20% of sinus fluid samples, and in group B, 4% of skin swab and 12% of sinus fluid samples). Anaerobes were mostly detected in combined cultures (42% of skin swab and 44% of sinus fluid samples from group A, 32% of skin swab and 40% of sinus fluid samples from group B). Surgical methods to considerably reduce the conditions for anaerobic bacterial colonization of the wound should be the methods of choice in the management of pilonidal disease of the sacrococcygeal region.