Which absorbable synthetic suture material has bacteriostatic properties when breaking down?

• A. Polyglycolic acid
• B. Polydioxanone
• C. Polypropylene
• D. Nylon

Answer: (A)

When an absorbable suture breaks down, its degradation by-products can alter the local wound environment. Polyglycolic acid degrades to glycolic acid, which lowers the local pH and can inhibit bacterial growth as it dissolves. This makes it bacteriostatic during its breakdown, which is why it stands out among the options. The other absorbable option degrades more slowly and does not reliably confer the same bacteriostatic effect through its breakdown products. Non-absorbable materials do not release such bacteriostatic by-products at all. So, the suture with bacteriostatic properties during degradation is polyglycolic acid.