Postcardiac surgery infections

Infections following cardiac surgery, although generally uncommon, are associated with difficult management decisions and significant morbidity and mortality. They often present while the patient is either in a critical care unit, or requires CCU management. This review analyzes infections related to median sternotomy wounds, prosthetic heart valves, transvenous permanent pacemakers, automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, and left ventricular assist devices. The diagnosis, microbiology, treatment and outcome of each is also discussed.