Journal
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
Volume 64, Issue 4, Pages 372-381Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2014.04.052
Keywords
cardiac surgery; infection; risk factors
Categories
Funding
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke [7U01 HL088942]
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
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BACKGROUND Infections are the most common noncardiac complication after cardiac surgery, but their incidence across a broad range of operations, as well as the management factors that shape infection risk, remain unknown. OBJECTIVES This study sought to prospectively examine the frequency of post-operative infections and associated mortality, and modifiable management practices predictive of infections within 65 days from cardiac surgery. METHODS This study enrolled 5,158 patients and analyzed independently adjudicated infections using a competing risk model (with death as the competing event). RESULTS Nearly 5% of patients experienced major infections. Baseline characteristics associated with increased infection risk included chronic lung disease (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21 to 2.26), heart failure (HR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.95), and longer surgery (HR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.21 to 1.41). Practices associated with reduced infection risk included prophylaxis with second-generation cephalosporins (HR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.52 to 0.94), whereas post-operative antibiotic duration >48 h (HR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.28 to 2.88), stress hyperglycemia (HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.73); intubation time of 24 to 48 h (HR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.04 to 2.14); and ventilation >48 h (HR: 2.45; 95% CI: 1.66 to 3.63) were associated with increased risk. HRs for infection were similar with either <24 h or <48 h of antibiotic prophylaxis. There was a significant but differential effect of transfusion by surgery type (excluding left ventricular assist device procedures/transplant) (HR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.20). Major infections substantially increased mortality (HR: 10.02; 95% CI: 6.12 to 16.39). CONCLUSIONS Major infections dramatically affect survival and readmissions. Second-generation cephalosporins were strongly associated with reduced major infection risk, but optimal duration of antibiotic prophylaxis requires further study. Given practice variations, considerable opportunities exist for improving outcomes and preventing readmissions. (Management Practices and Risk of Infection Following Cardiac Surgery; NCT01089712) (C) 2014 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation
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