An audit of risk factors for wound infection in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting or valve replacement

Abstract

OBJECTIVES. To investigate the epidemiology of surgical site infection in cardiac surgery patients operated on in 2006.

DESIGN. Retrospective study of a case-control sample.

SETTING. Cardiac surgery unit of a university teaching hospital in Hong Kong.

PATIENTS. Cardiac surgery patients with surgical site infection were matched by procedure type, sex, and year of surgery with non-infected patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. Identification of risk factors for surgical site infection.

RESULTS. The infected and non-infected cardiac surgery patients did not differ in age, sex, or smoking history; however, patients with surgical site infection were significantly heavier (mean body mass index, 26.6 vs 23.9 kg/m²), P

CONCLUSIONS. There appears to be a relationship between surgical site infection in cardiac surgery patients and pre-existing (diagnosed and covert) diabetes mellitus and blood transfusion. Future studies should consider these factors in relation to surgical site infections, both in the wider surgical population and from a risk-minimisation perspective.