title: Risk factors for surgical site infection after delayed sternal closure.
abstract: We examined the rates and risk factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) following delayed sternal closure after pediatric cardiac surgery by way of retrospective review of prospectively collected infection control data. Of 130 patients, 13.7% developed an SSI, and 6.9% developed mediastinitis following delayed sternal closure. There was a trend toward increased SSIs in patients undergoing delayed sternal closure in beds in the open bay of a pediatric intensive care unit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Alberta and Stollery Children's Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. mbowman.pid@gmail.com
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Ivan M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Rebeyka
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Luis G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Quinonez
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Forgie
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013249:Sternum / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology