Despite the large choice of wide-spectrum antibiotic therapy, deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) following cardiac surgery is a life-threatening complication worldwide. This study evaluated that the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) applied inside the sternotomy wound would reduce the effect of sternal wound infections, both superficial and deep. Between January 2007 and January 2012, 1093 con...

OBJECTIVES We studied the influence of the number of sternotomy mechanical fixation points on deep sternal wound infection (DSWI). METHODS Between September 2007 and February 2011, 2672 patients underwent a standard peri-sternal wire closure following a median sternotomy for a first-time cardiac surgery. Data were collected during the study period. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 6...

OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for sternal wound infection following coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), and to compare early and mid-term survival outcome. METHODS Data were prospectively collected for 4228 patients who underwent CABG surgery between April 1997 and March 2001. One hundred and nine (2.6%) patients developed sternal wound infection. We used logistic regression to identi...

Few reports in the literature have documented the isolation of Ureaplasma species from sternal wounds. A case of sternal wound infection likely due to Ureaplasma parvum is described. When routine bacterial cultures from a sternal wound infection fail to yield a pathogen, diagnostic testing for mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas should be considered.

Sternal wound infections (SWI) continue to be a major cause of concern after cardiac surgery. It leads to prolonged hospital stay and increased morbidity, mortality and increased hospital costs. Prophylactic systemic antibiotics have been used to prevent surgical site infection (SSI). However, prolonged postoperative use of systemic antibiotics can lead to emergence of resistant organisms. Gent...