# Surgical Site Infection in Coronary Artery Bypass: Observational Study

## TL;DR

This study found that despite good adherence to infection prevention measures, many patients undergoing heart surgery still developed infections, highlighting the need for better strategies.

## Contribution

The study is one of the few to assess healthcare professionals' adherence to surgical site infection prevention measures in coronary artery bypass grafting.

## Key findings

- The mean adherence to recommended infection prevention practices was 71.18%.
- 55.8% of patients developed surgical site infections, with 23.3% requiring readmission.
- Each additional percentage point in adherence was linked to a 10% reduction in infection odds.

## Abstract

Preventing surgical site infections plays a crucial role in ensuring patient safety during coronary artery bypass grafting. To reduce incidence rates, it is essential to implement evidence‐based best practice measures. However, there is a noticeable lack of studies assessing healthcare professionals' adherence to these measures, which justifies the present investigation.

This study aimed to determine adherence to surgical site infection prevention measures, determine the incidence of surgical site infection and examine the relationship between adherence and infections in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

This was an observational, longitudinal study with a quantitative approach, conducted at a large university hospital, recognized as a regional referral centre for cardiac procedures. A nonprobabilistic recruitment process was employed, and no selection bias was identified. All patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting during the study period from September 2022 to May 2023 were included.

The mean adherence score to the recommended practices was 71.18%. Among the participants, 24 (55.8%) developed infections, of which 10 (23.3%) required hospital readmission and 3 (7.0%) resulted in death.

Despite a relatively high adherence to preventive measures, the incidence of surgical site infections was also significant (55.8%), underscoring the urgent need for more effective prevention strategies in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Preventing surgical site infections plays a crucial role in ensuring patient safety during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).To reduce incidence of surgical site infections, it is essential to implement evidence‐based best practice measures.However, there is a noticeable lack of studies assessing healthcare professionals' adherence to these measures.

Preventing surgical site infections plays a crucial role in ensuring patient safety during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

To reduce incidence of surgical site infections, it is essential to implement evidence‐based best practice measures.

However, there is a noticeable lack of studies assessing healthcare professionals' adherence to these measures.

A high incidence of infection (55.8%) in a population of patients is undergoing CABG.There was an average adherence of 71.18% to preventive measures, highlighting a gap between practice and established guidelines.A clinically relevant association where each additional percentage point in adherence to preventive measures was linked to a 10% reduction in the odds of infection.

A high incidence of infection (55.8%) in a population of patients is undergoing CABG.

There was an average adherence of 71.18% to preventive measures, highlighting a gap between practice and established guidelines.

A clinically relevant association where each additional percentage point in adherence to preventive measures was linked to a 10% reduction in the odds of infection.

Despite a relatively high adherence to recommended practices, the incidence of surgical site infections was significant, suggesting that failures at critical points in clinical practice may be a determining factor.

Despite a relatively high adherence to recommended practices, the incidence of surgical site infections was significant, suggesting that failures at critical points in clinical practice may be a determining factor.