Eliminating sternal wound infections: Why every cardiac surgery program needs an I hate infections team

Results of a postoperative telemedicine trial after cardiac surgery and incorporation into practice

“…A limitation in the interpretation of the data and processes presented includes a potential concomitant benefit to patients from a robust infection prevention initiative as well in an existing enhanced recovery after surgery cardiac pathway. 16 , 17 No a priori statistical assumptions were made for either study, and as such statistical significance was not calculated. Additionally, the Perfect Care study participants were required to be smart technology proficient and therefore may have inherently higher socioeconomic status, introducing bias.…”

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in the Treatment of Sternal Infection after Cardiac Surgery: a Case Report and Literature Review

“…Treatment costs for patients with sternal infections are 2.8 times greater compared to patients without complications. Lee et al pointed to an additional cost of $500,000 per each case of treatment for such patients [3,4].…”

“…Most pathogens migrate from patients' own nasal flora. 20-30% of the general population are carriers of Staphylococcus aureus, which trebles their risk of developing wound complications caused by this pathogen [3]. Measures to prevent sternal infection include exact median sternotomy, avoiding the use of the internal mammary artery as a bypass in high-risk patients, avoiding the use of wax and local hemostatics that interfere with consolidation of the sternum and are "traps" for infection, accurately matching the halves of the sternum, and compliance with sanitary and anti-epidemic rules in the hospital [3,5].…”