Characterization of Postoperative Infection Risk in Cardiac Surgery Patients With Delayed Sternal Closure

Extended systemic antibiotic prophylaxis in ventricular assist device recipients, an infectious disease perspective

“…The rate of Med/deep soft tissue infection was equivalent (5.3% vs. 0, in DSC and PSC, respectively, p = .24). The significant difference in postoperative infection rates was due to high rate of pneumonia in the DSC patients (19.3% vs. 1.8% in DSC and PSC, respectively, p < .005), possibly related to longer time spent on a ventilator 16 …”

“…Also, there were 10 (7.6%) patients who developed C. difficile infection, none in the abbreviated duration patients. 6 Another retrospective (November 2015 to November 2018) single-center study 16 Quader et al 13 Anderson et al 11 Boeken et al 1 Furnary et al 12 The rate of postoperative infection was higher in DSC compared to PSC (31.6% vs. 3.5%, respectively, p < .005). The rate of Med/deep soft tissue infection was equivalent (5.3% vs. 0, in DSC and PSC, respectively, p = .24).…”

“…The significant difference in postoperative infection rates was due to high rate of pneumonia in the DSC patients (19.3% vs. 1.8% in DSC and PSC, respectively, p < .005), possibly related to longer time spent on a ventilator. 16 Prophylactic antibiotics in cardiac surgery are usually prescribed for a 48-h period, 17,18 but when the chest remains open, most centers continue prophylaxis until chest closure. 18 The most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guideline 19 for the prevention of surgical site infection, did not address…”

“…Another retrospective (November 2015 to November 2018) single‐center study 16 analyzed postoperative infections in 57 cardiothoracic surgery patients with DSC (transplant patients were excluded) and compared them to 57 matched PSC patients (propensity score did not balance all covariates). PSC patients received cefazolin or cefazolin/vancomycin in methicillin‐resistant Staphilococcus aureus colonization, for 48 h after operation.…”

Review of outcomes of delayed chest closure following lung transplantation: a meta-analysis

“…Additionally, the disrupted physical barriers after transplantation, and the use of nasogastric and endotracheal tubes also increased the likelihood of aspiration and infection [ 22 ]. Extensive researches on open chest management after cardiac surgery also identified increased risk of hospital-acquired infections in the settings of ‘open chest’ [ 23 – 26 ].…”