HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bitkover, C. Y. Articles by Ransjö, U. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bitkover, C. Y. Articles by Ransjö, U.

Ann Thorac Surg 2000;69:1110-1115
© 2000 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

ORIGINAL ARTICLES: CARDIOVASCULAR

Spread of coagulase-negative staphylococci during cardiac operations in a modern operating room

^a Department of Thoracic Surgery, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
^b Department of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Address reprint requests to Dr Bitkover, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Karolinska Hospital, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
e-mail: catarina.bitkover{at}thxkir.ks.se

Background. Coagulase-negative staphylococci cause 33% to 62.5% of wound infections after cardiac operations. The aim of this study was to investigate the sources of coagulase-negative staphylococci in the sternal wound.

Methods. Twenty operations performed in zonal ventilated operating rooms were investigated prospectively. Cultures were taken from all persons present in the room, the sternal wound, and the air. Isolates macroscopically judged to be coagulase-negative staphylococci were metabolically classified, and similar isolates were investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

Results. Bacterial counts in the operating room air were very low. Wound contamination was found in 13 of 20 operations. Six wound isolates could be traced, three to the patients’ sternal skin, one to the patient’s groin, one to the surgeon’s nose, and one to the surgeon’s arm and forehead and the assistant’s nose. Three operating field air cultures could be traced to the scrubbed theatre staff. The single case of superficial sternal wound infection was caused by Staphylococcus aureus, which was not isolated from the wound at operation.

Conclusions. In an ultraclean environment, bacteria in the sternal wound originated from the patients’ own skin and from the surgical team.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L.-G. Dahlin, H. Granfeldt, and H. Hultkvist A multimodal approach for reducing wound infections after sternotomy Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, March 1, 2004; 3(1): 206 - 210. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Heiner, J. D. Whitney, C. Wood, and B. I. Mygrant Effects of an Augmented Postoperative Fluid Protocol on Wound Healing in Cardiac Surgery Patients Am. J. Crit. Care., November 1, 2002; 11(6): 554 - 566. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Risnes, M. Abdelnoor, R. Lundblad, S. T. Baksaas, and J. L. Svennevig Sternal wound closure in patients undergoing open-heart surgery: a prospective randomized study comparing intracutaneous and zipper techniques Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., August 1, 2002; 22(2): 271 - 277. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Eklund, J. Ojajarvi, K. Laitinen, M. Valtonen, and K. A. Werkkala Glove punctures and postoperative skin flora of hands in cardiac surgery Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 2002; 74(1): 149 - 153. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Gardlund, C.Y. Bitkover, and J. Vaage Postoperative mediastinitis in cardiac surgery -- microbiology and pathogenesis Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., May 1, 2002; 21(5): 825 - 830. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Risnes, M. Abdelnoor, S. Tore Baksaas, R. Lundblad, and J. L. Svennevig Sternal wound infections in patients undergoing open heart surgery: randomized study comparing intracutaneous and transcutaneous suture techniques Ann. Thorac. Surg., November 1, 2001; 72(5): 1587 - 1591. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Combes, J.-L. Trouillet, J. Baudot, M. Mokhtari, J. Chastre, and C. Gibert Is it possible to cure mediastinitis in patients with major postcardiac surgery complications? Ann. Thorac. Surg., November 1, 2001; 72(5): 1592 - 1597. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]