Infection prophylaxis in cardiovascular surgery

In the period 1986-1994, 2950 patients with cardiovascular diseases were surgically treated. In 2104 cases we placed biological or synthetic grafts to maintain vascular continuity. The most common has turned out to be abdominal aortic aneurysm. We treated 783 cases in emergency conditions. Staging and localization of infection has been the first aim in patients with synthetic vascular grafts. We studied signs and symptoms related to infections. In all cases we discovered the microorganism responsible of infection we started antibiotic therapy.

Materials and methods. In the period 1986-1994, 2950 patients with cardiovascular diseases were surgically treated. In 2104 cases we placed biological or synthetic grafts to maintain vascular continuity. The most common has turned out to be abdominal aortic aneurysm. We treated 783 cases in emergency conditions. Staging and localization of infection has been the first aim in patients with synthetic vascular grafts. We studied signs and symptoms related to infections. In all cases we discovered the microorganism responsible of infection we started antibiotic therapy. Results. Surgical infection incidence is 4.9% (154 cases). Series analysis has evidenced a decrease in infection incidence in the period 1986-1994. The most frequent infections are: the urinary tract infection (59 cases, 38.5%) followed by surgical wound infection (37 cases, 24.1%), respiratory tract infection (27 cases, 17.5%), vascular graft infection (23 cases, 14.4%). All patients underwent a preoperative antibiotic pro...