Deep Wound Infection in Pediatrics after Open Cardiac Surgery

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a serious complication requiring prolonged hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, wound care and dressings resulting in increased cost and resistant bacteria. In pediatric cardiac surgery, Median sternotomy is the most frequently used incision for the correction of congenital anomalies. Sternal wound infections (SWIs) are well described complications of cardiac surgery and can occur in 3% to 8% of children. Furthermore, the mortality rate can increase 2-fold after SSIs. Also, SSIs are associated with an increased length of hospital stay, readmissions, and higher health care expenditures. Mediastinitis is a retrosternal wound infection frequently associated with a macroscopically sternal osteomyelitis. Mediastinitis is uncomfortable for patients, is poorly accepted by parents, leads to a prolonged hospital stay repeated surgery and prolonged antibiotic therapy. Mediastinitis are costly for patients, providers, and health-care institutions. In A recent survey among congenital heart programs, the incidence of mediastinitis has been reported to occur in 0.2–1.4%. Gram-positive cocci are the most common pathogen. Gram negative organisms are increasingly recognized, especially in neonates, and are related to delayed sternal closure. Fungal organisms are not infrequently found. Mediastinitis generally presents 2–3 weeks after cardiac surgery. Child often appear irritable, tired, and febrile. The incision is erythematous and painful. Wound separation and purulent drainage from the incision are frequent. Some but not all will also have sternal instability or dehiscence. Associated bacteremia is not uncommon, present in up to 40% of patients. Postoperative mediastinitis is a life-threatening infection and increase health expenditure. Young age, malnutrition, hypothermia, hyperglycemia, longer duration of surgery, long time of delayed sternal closure, postoperative low cardiac output and long ICU stay were a risk factor of mediastinitis. Stick to1999 CDC's Guideline for prevention of surgical site infection and their update in 2017 especially proper timing of antibiotic prophylaxis and post-operative blood glucose management is important in prevention of these life-threatening complication. procalcitonin can be useful biologic marker of infection. Management of mediastinitis consist of debridement and culture-based antibiotics. Primary closure over mediastinal drain or high vacuum drain gave good result, less time consuming, more economic and more cosmetic. Vacuum assisted closure gave excellent result, but more time consuming, less economic and delayed closure is necessary. Larger studies are needed to compare both techniques in effectiveness and coast benefit.