Assessing the Effect of the Silver Dressing on Surgical Site Infections in Adult Patients Post Cardiac Surgery: a Single Center Randomized Control Trial

Background The prevalence of surgical site infections in cardiac surgery is about 10%. About 3% of patients who develop an SSI will die as a result. Multiple studies confirm that SSIs are complications with significant sequelae, such as longer hospitalization, increased health costs, increased morbidity, and mortality. Hence, the prevention and management of wound infections in median sternotomy incisions after adult cardiac surgery are crucial for optimizing patient outcomes, 5 Aim To assess the effect of the silver dressing on SSI rates in adult patients post-cardiac surgery.

Methodology A single-center randomized control trial approach will be employed. Adult patients admitted post-cardiac surgery with a sternotomy incision will be randomized into the intervention (n=78) or control group (n=77). Units will include the cardiac surgical intensive care unit, the coronary care unit, and the cardiovascular telemetry unit. The intervention will include the use of a silver dressing on the sternotomy incisions and the donor sites where applicable. The control group will follow standard care processes. Data collection will include a checklist and the modified Parsonnet Score. Data analysis will include descriptive and inferential statistics.

Conclusion The current rate of surgical site infection amongst cardiac surgical patients is 2.1 below the benchmark of 2.9 with an operational goal of 2.1.

Inclusion criteria

Patients 18 years of age and older are scheduled for cardiac surgery requiring a sternotomy incision.

Exclusion criteria

Presence of a concurrent infection and any systemic antibiotic other than those used for perioperative prophylaxis.

Patients who died without an infection within thirty days following surgery. Patients who had undergone another procedure through the same incision(s) within a year after enrollment in this study.

Patients who are a redo- such as needing debridement or an infection. Patients who have an open chest Patients on ECHMO Patients excessively bleeding Patients who require the surgery as an emergency Patients with a known allergy to silver dressings

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