Staphylococci pathogens were found on more than half of cardiac patients with major postoperative infections, according to research published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
Researchers mined data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeon National Cardiac Database, which includes data on adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery at five tertiary hospitals from 2000 to 2004. They used this information to determine the incidence, microbiology and risk factors of major postoperative infections and 30-day mortality.
Of 10,522 cardiac patients, 341 suffered from major postoperative infections. Staphylococci pathogens were found in more than half (52.5 percent) of patients, followed by gram-negative bacilli (24.3 percent) and other pathogens (23.2 percent). Other risk factors associated with major postoperative infections include high body mass index, previous coronary bypass surgery, emergency surgery, renal impairment, immunosuppression, cardiac failure and peripheral/cerebrovascular disease.
Average hospital stays and mortality were higher for patients with postoperative infections compared to patients with no infections.
Researchers mined data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeon National Cardiac Database, which includes data on adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery at five tertiary hospitals from 2000 to 2004. They used this information to determine the incidence, microbiology and risk factors of major postoperative infections and 30-day mortality.
Of 10,522 cardiac patients, 341 suffered from major postoperative infections. Staphylococci pathogens were found in more than half (52.5 percent) of patients, followed by gram-negative bacilli (24.3 percent) and other pathogens (23.2 percent). Other risk factors associated with major postoperative infections include high body mass index, previous coronary bypass surgery, emergency surgery, renal impairment, immunosuppression, cardiac failure and peripheral/cerebrovascular disease.
Average hospital stays and mortality were higher for patients with postoperative infections compared to patients with no infections.
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