Surgical site infections and bloodstream infections in infants after cardiac surgery. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • OBJECTIVE: Few recent studies have assessed the epidemiology of and risk factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) and bloodstream infections (BSIs) in infants after cardiac surgery. We hypothesized that infants younger than 30 days old and those with higher Risk Adjustment in Congenital Heart Surgery-1 scores would have an increased risk of SSIs, but not an increased risk of BSIs after surgery. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of infants younger than 1 year of age undergoing cardiac surgery from January 2010 to December 2011 to determine the rates of SSIs and BSIs occurring within 3 months of surgery, risk factors associated with these infections, and causative pathogens. Multivariable associations using Cox proportional hazard modeling assessed potential risk factors for BSIs or SSIs. RESULTS: Overall, 8.7% (48 of 552) of surgical procedures were complicated by SSIs (n = 19) or BSIs (n = 29). Thus, SSIs and BSIs occurred after 3.4% and 5.3% of procedures, respectively. Multivariate models found age younger than 30 days, incorrect timing of preoperative antibiotics, and excessive bleeding within 24 hours of surgery to be significant predictors for SSIs, and duration of use of arterial lines to be a significant predictor for BSIs. Gram-positive bacteria caused 75% of SSIs and BSIs and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus caused 63% of SSIs. DISCUSSION: We identified some potential strategies to reduce risk, including closer monitoring of timing of preoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis and enhanced efforts to achieve intraoperative hemostasis and earlier removal of arterial lines. CONCLUSIONS: SSIs and BSIs remain important complications after cardiac surgery in infants.

publication date

  • October 8, 2013

Research

keywords

  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures
  • Surgical Wound Infection

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84902549954

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2013.08.048

PubMed ID

  • 24113023

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 148

issue

  • 1