Background There is limited information about the incidence and risk factors of surgical site infections (SSIs) after coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgeries in the Omani population. Aim To estimate the prevalence and describe possible risk factors of SSIs after CABG surgeries in Oman. Method A retrospective nested case–control design was used to screen 596 patients who underwent CABG surgeries over 2 years (2016–2017) in two tertiary hospitals in Oman. The CDC definition for SSIs was used to identify the infected cases. Results Prevalence rate of SSIs was 17.4% and 17.5% in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The most isolated microorganism was Gram-positive bacteria (45.2%). Risk factors of SSIs include female gender (OR = 3.2, p < 0.001), diabetes (OR = 5.83, p < 0.001), overweight or obese (OR = 2.14, p < 0.05) and shaving technique [using razor shaving] (OR = 8.4, p < 0.001). Readmission rate for the case group was 44.2%. Conclusion The infection rate of SSIs after CABG surgeries in developing countries, such as Oman, is considerably high. There is an urgent need to establish SSIs preventive program at the national level. Frequent and systematic assessment of infection control practices before and after CABG surgeries is fundamental and priority strategy to prevent SSIs.

Background Surgical site infection (SSI) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries is considered a key indicator of the quality of healthcare services. Objective This study aimed to estimate the healthcare outcomes associated with SSIs after CABG surgeries in Oman in terms of mortality rate, case-fatality rate, LOS, readmission rate and healthcare costs. Methods The nested case-control study design was used based on retrospective data, which was conducted from 2016 to 2017. The case group encompassed all CABG patients with confirmed SSIs within 30 days of the surgery ( n = 104) while controls were CABG patients without SSIs ( n = 404). Results Forty-four (42.3%) of the SSI patients were readmitted to the hospital compared to eight (2%) of the control group ( p < .001). Patients in the case group had a longer LOS ( M = 24.4, SD = 44.6 days) compared to those in the control group ( M = 11, SD = 21 days, p = .003). The mean healthcare costs of cases ( M = Omani Rial [OMR] 3823, SD = OMR 2516) were significantly greater than controls ( M = OMR 3154, SD = OMR 1415, p = .010). Conclusion Results from this study can be baseline data for formulating new hypotheses and testing the causal relationship between SSIs after CABG surgeries and the readmission rate, LOS and health care costs. Key messages Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) are still a major complication after cardiac surgeries in Oman. SSIs after cardiac surgeries are associated with substantially increased healthcare costs and length of stay. SSIs after cardiac surgeries are associated with negative outcomes such as mortality and case-fatality rates.