POSTOPERATIVE CHEST WOUND INFECTIONS IN PATIENTS REQUIRING CORONARY-BYPASS - CONTROLLED-STUDY EVALUATING PROPHYLACTIC ANTIBIOTICS

Abstract

A controlled study investigating clean chest wound infections in 904 patients undergoing myocardial revascularization was performed. Patients (451) received systemic antibiotics before and after the operation, and 453 patients received no prophylactic systemic antibiotics. The infection rate was 1.10 and 1.76%, respectively, indicating no statistical difference between the 2 groups. Preoperative skin preparation and subsequent local antibiotic wound irrigation may be the most important factors in preventing clean wound infection.