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Background  Sternal wound infection is a devastating complication of cardiothoracic surgery that carries high postoperative morbidity and mortality rates. We explored whether our current program of extensive bacteriological examination including repeat blood cultures may contribute to the early diagnosis of sternal wound infection.    Methods  We retrospectively analyzed 112 patients who were subjected to our bacteriological examination protocol including within 90 days after cardiothoracic surgery. Univariate and multivariate analyses were made in order to identify risk factors for sternal infection.    Results  The median patient age was 75 years, and 65 patients were male. In 35 cases (31.2%) the blood cultures showed the presence of bacterial infection with the following frequencies:  Staphylococcus aureus , 18 cases; Coagulase-negative  Staphylococcus , 7 cases; other organisms, 10 cases. Eleven patients presented repeat bacteremia on at least 2 different occasions. Twenty patients (17.8%) presented sternal wound infections. There was no difference in operative mortality between the patients with and without sternal wound infection. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that bilateral mammary artery use (OR, 13.68, 95% CI, 1.09-167.36,  p  = 0.043), positive blood culture for  Staphylococcus aureus  (OR, 19.51, 95% CI, 4.46-104.33,  p  < 0.0001), repeat bacteremia (OR, 17.98, 95% CI, 2.51-161.77,  p  = 0.004) were risk factors that were associated for sternal wound infection.    Conclusion  Repeat blood cultures in febrile patients appear to be useful for the early detection of  Staphylococcus aureus  and repeat bacteremia, and these were associated with sternal wound infection. Bilateral internal mammary artery use was another risk factor of sternal wound infection in febrile patients. These factors may identify patients suitable for expeditious radiological examination and aggressive treatments.

Staphylococcus aureus and repeat bacteremia in febrile patients as early signs of sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery