Cardiac surgery is the largest consumer of blood products in medicine; although believed life saving, transfusion carries substantial adverse risks. This study characterizes the relationship between transfusion and risk of major infection after cardiac surgery. 5,158 adults were prospectively enrolled to assess infections after cardiac surgery. The most common procedures were isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (31%) and isolated valve surgery (30%); 19% were reoperations. Infections were adjudicated by independent infectious disease experts. Multivariable Cox modeling was used to assess the independent effect of blood and platelet transfusions on major infections within 60±5 days of surgery. Red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets were transfused in 48% and 31% of patients, respectively. Each RBC unit transfused was associated with a 29% increase in crude risk of major infection (P<0.001). Among RBC recipients, the most common infections were pneumonia (3.6%) and bloodstream infections (2%). Risk factors for infection included postoperative RBC units transfused, longer duration of surgery, and transplant or ventricular assist device implantation, in addition to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, and elevated preoperative creatinine. Platelet transfusion decreased the risk of infection (P=.02). Greater attention to management practices that limit RBC use, including cell salvage, small priming volumes, vacuum-assisted venous return with rapid autologous priming, and ultrafiltration, and pre- and intraoperative measures to elevate hematocrit could potentially reduce occurrence of major postoperative infections.

Pretransplant recipient and donor characteristics are associated with PGF. Identification of risk factors may aid in understanding the mechanisms underlying PGF and in matching recipients with donors in efforts to diminish the high mortality associated with this complication.

Rationale Pneumonia remains the most common major infection after cardiac surgery despite numerous preventive measures. Objectives To prospectively examine the timing, pathogens, and risk factors, including modifiable management practices, for post-operative pneumonia and estimate its impact on clinical outcomes. Methods 5,158 adult cardiac surgery patients were prospectively enrolled in a cohort study across 10 centers. All infections were adjudicated by an independent committee. Competing risk models were used to assess the association of patient characteristics and management practices with pneumonia within 65 days of surgery. Mortality was assessed by Cox proportional hazards model, and length of stay using a multi-state model. Measurements and Main Results The cumulative incidence of p neumonia was 2.4% ,33% of which occurred after discharge. Older age, lower hemoglobin level, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, steroid use, operative time and left ventricular assist device/heart transplant were risk factors. Ventilation time (24–48 vs ≤24 hours;HR,2·83; 95% CI,1·72–4·66; >48 hours HR,4·67; 95% CI,2·70–8·08), nasogastric tubes (HR,1·80; 95% CI,1·10–2·94), and each unit of blood cells transfused (HR,1·16; 95% CI,1·08–1·26) increased pneumonia risk. Prophylactic use of second-generation cephalosporins (HR,0·66; 95% CI, 0·45–0·97) and platelet transfusions (HR, 0·49, 95% CI, 0·30–0·79) were protective. Pneumonia was associated with a marked increase in mortality (HR,8·89; 95% CI,5·02–15·75), and longer LOS of 13·55 ± 1·95 days (bootstrap 95% CI,10·31–16·58). Conclusions Pneumonia continues to impose a major impact on the health of patients after cardiac surgery. Adjusting for baseline risk, several specific management practices were associated with pneumonia, which offer targets for quality improvement and further research.

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