Use of Ozonized Water in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection in Children Undergoing Cardiovascular Surgery

Area of Science:

• Pediatric cardiovascular surgery
• Infection control
• Healthcare-associated infections

Background:

• Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a critical concern in patient care.
• Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a common type of HAI, particularly in pediatric cardiovascular surgery.
• Reducing SSIs is a key goal for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an ozonized water system in reducing SSIs in children undergoing cardiovascular surgery.
• To assess the impact of ozonized water on hand and body hygiene protocols.
• To compare SSI rates before and after the implementation of the ozonized water system.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving two groups of pediatric patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery.
• Group A (187 patients) operated before ozonized water system implementation (March-August 2019).
• Group B (214 patients) operated after ozonized water system implementation (October 2019-March 2020), using ozonized water for hygiene.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant reduction in SSIs was observed in Group B (P=0.0289).
• Patients in Group B had a 44% lower risk of developing SSIs compared to Group A (Relative Risk = 0.560).
• No significant differences were found in mechanical ventilation time (P=0.1998) or mortality rates (P=0.4457).

Conclusions:

• Ozonized water, used for hand and body hygiene, acts as an effective adjunct to traditional preventive measures for reducing SSI risk.
• The ozonized water system demonstrated a positive impact on SSI reduction in pediatric cardiovascular surgery.
• The system did not show a significant impact on hospital stay duration or patient mortality.