Postoperative wound infections following cardiac surgery: Significance of contaminated cases performed in the preceding 48 hours

M. I. DeSilva, J. P. Rissing

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Postoperative wound infections following open heart cardiac surgery increased markedly after hospital relocation (7 of 77v4 of 320;p = .0007). Of the multiple identified risk factors, significant patient and procedural association included prolonged operative time of infected patients (384 minutes ± 115 SD v 318 ± 67,p = .025) and operation in a room used within the previous 48 hours for a contaminated case (4/7 infected v 10/67 not infected; p = .023). Several defects were discovered in the air handling system. After appropriate changes, the infection rate decreased in the next 12 months (1 of 109; p < .02). Other concurrent surgical wound infection rates remained unchanged suggesting that defective air handling may have impacted only on the open heart cardiac surgery patients. Preceding contaminated surgery and prolonged operative time were associated with postoperative wound infections in cardiac surgery.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)371-377
Number of pages7
JournalInfection Control
Volume5
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1984
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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