The role of patient’s profile and allogeneic blood transfusion in development of post-cardiac surgery infections: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the association of patient characteristics and allogeneic blood transfusion products in development of post-cardiac surgery nosocomial infections. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in 7888 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with median sternotomy and cardiopul-monary bypass. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used for independent effect of variables on infections. RESULTS: A total of 970 (12.3%) patients developed one or several types of postoperative infections. Urinary (n = 351, 4.4%) and pulmonary tract infections (n = 478, 6.1%) occurred more frequently than sternal wound infections (superficial: n = 102, 1.3%, deep: n = 72, 0.9%) and donor site infections (n = 61, 0.8%). Interventions, including valve replacement (P = 0.002) and coronary artery bypass grafting combined with valve replacement (P = 0.012), were associated with increased risk of several types of postoperative infections. Patients ’ profiles changed substantially over the years; morbid obesity (P = 0.019), smoking (P = 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (P = 0.001) occur more fre-quently nowadays. Furthermore, surgical site infections showed to be related to morbid obesity (P < 0.001) and higher risk stratification (P = 0.031). Smoking (P < 0.001) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P < 0.001) were related to pulmonary tract infections. In add-ition, diabetic patients developed more sepsis (P = 0.003) and advanced age was associated with development of urinary tract infection