title: Mediastinitis after cardiac surgery in Madani Heart Center, Tabriz, Iran.
abstract: Post-sternotomy infections are a kind of nosocomial infection involving the mediastinum space and the sternum, with a high morbidity and mortality rate. The present study was carried out to identify the incidence of mediastinitis following cardiac surgery and the most common risk factors. Cardic patients undergoing surgery were studied for suspicious mediastinitis infection at the Madani Heart Center, Tabriz, Iran from 2004 to 2006. The most common isolated agents included the coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp. Incidence of postoperative mediastinitis after cardiac surgery was 1.2%. The mortality rate of postoperative mediastinitis was high (34.3%). Wound infection, especially mediastinitis following cardiac surgery, is rare but could be life-threatening. The most important step in the management of wound infections is prevention, and preventive measures could be strengthened by identifying the risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. gottasloreza@tbzmed.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghotaslou
authors.forename: Ali-Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Yagoubi
authors.forename: Ahmad-Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.forename: Roghaieh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahmodian
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D006095:Gram-Positive Cocci / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality