Impact of a patient care pathway protocol on surgical site infection rates in cardiothoracic surgery patients.

Background: We hypothesized that implementing a quality care initiative, including peri-incisional antibiotic administration, tight blood glucose control, and hair removal with clippers would reduce surgical site infection (SSI) rates in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), with or without valve replacement.

Methods: Patients undergoing CABG were studied retrospectively, before (n = 808) and after (n = 674) instituting a patient care protocol. The pathway included peri-incisional antibiotics, tight glucose control (80 mg/dL-110 mg/dL) throughout intensive care unit (ICU) stays, and hair removal with clippers.

Results: SSIs were significantly decreased in the experimental group (1.5%), compared with the control group (3.5%), (P = .001, odds ratio [OR] = .21). Significant independent predictors of infection included diabetes mellitus (P = .001, OR = 4.71), Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System (NNIS) wound class II (P = .044, OR = 2.07), and female gender (P = .001, OR = 2.83).

Conclusions: Protocols implementing timely perioperative antibiotics, tight blood glucose control, and avoidance of shaving decrease SSI rates in CABG patients.