Evaluation of nosocomial infections following cardiovascular surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate nosocomial infections (NI) following cardiovascular surgery (CVS), and to share the first seven-year experience of the infection control commission in a private medical center. METHODS: Active prospective and laboratory based surveillance program of the hospital from January 1999 to December 2005 was used and all patients who were found to have NIs after CVS during their stay or readmission were included. RESULTS: A total of 14,502 cardiovascular operations were performed and 416 (2.9%) patients had 494 NIs. The most prevalent infections were surgical site infections (42%) and urinary tract infections (22%). The most frequently isolated microorganisms were coagulase-negative staphylococci (19%), Escherichia coli (16%) and Staphylococcus aureus (16%). A total of 99 patients (24%) died. The mortality rates were high in patients with blood-stream infections (58%) and lower respiratory tract infections (37%). The 2003 was the year with the lowest NI rate when compared to 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005 (p< 0.005). CONCLUSION: This study allowed an evaluation of NIs, including incidence and distribution, following CVS. While carrying on the studies to prevent NIs that are responsible for serious morbidity and mortality, risk factors also need to be identified in order to take preventive measures, other than the ones present.