[Surgical site infections following cardiac surgery supervision--own experience]

In spite of advances of knowledge in the area of controlling hospital infections SSI remains main cause of morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing surgical treatment. In the current paper, results of epidemiological and microbiological analyses of SSI are summarized, regarding patients, subject to surgical treatments in cardiovascular surgery and transplantation unit. In 2002-2004, 7980 surgical treatments were carried out--identified 130 SSIs. Infections were classified, according to definitions and criteria of the NNIS. Medication sensitivity of the bacteria regarded to be a SSI etiological factor was tested using the circular diffusion method, according to specifications of the NCCLS. A SSI morbidity of 3.0-3.2% was found, mortality: 9.8%. The rate of cardiovascular surgery-related SSIs--comparing favorably with CDC national data. Post-discharge recording covered 25% of cases, including patients who required repeated hospitalization. Among etiological factors of all the clinical forms of the SSI, a dominant part was consisted of gram-positive positive cocci (65.4%). Each of the identified SSIs was subject to microbiological diagnosing, in order to identify etiological factors. Prevalence of G(+) bacteria was found among isolated bacterial flora, although numerous occurrences of G(-) cocci were also identified. The obtained data confirm the necessity of continued close cooperation of the Infection Control Team with the microbiological laboratory. The analysis of data pertaining to leading SSI etiological factors as well as their medication susceptibility should enable elaboration of own standards for surgical infection prophylaxis and empirical therapy to be used in the ward being a subject of study.