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[Wound infection and its treatment. In thoracic and cardiovascular surgery]
Insights
Post-operative wound infections, including sternal and mediastinal infections, occurred in 1.4% of cardiovascular surgery patients. Staphylococci were a common cause, with treatment varying by infection depth.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Surgical Site Infections
- Cardiovascular Surgery
Context:
- Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) pose a significant risk following aseptic operations.
- A retrospective study analyzed wound infections in 4,166 cardiovascular surgery patients between 1973 and 1980.
Purpose:
- To investigate the incidence and characteristics of wound infections after cardiovascular surgery.
- To evaluate treatment strategies for superficial and deep wound infections.
Summary:
- Wound infections occurred in 1.4% (58/4,166) of patients, with 0.26% (11/4,166) experiencing sternal or mediastinal infections.
- Staphylococci were identified as the causative agent in one-third of infections.
- Superficial infections were managed by secondary intention healing.
- Deep infections required surgical intervention, including débridement and irrigation.
Impact:
- Highlights the incidence of surgical site infections in cardiovascular procedures.
- Informs clinical decision-making for managing post-operative wound infections.
- Emphasizes the importance of appropriate therapeutic approaches based on infection severity.
Abstract:
Wound infections following aseptic operations are considered to be hospital infections. Among 4,166 patients operated on between 1973 and 1980 for cardiovascular diseases, there have been wound infections in 58 cases (1.4%) and associated sternal or mediastinal infection in 11 cases (0.26%). One-third of the infections were caused by staphylococci. In superficial infections therapy consisted in healing by second intention. In deep infections surgical intervention with débridement and irrigation was the method of choice.