Yasushi Satoh

Postoperative infections related to pacing wires, pulmonary Arterial catheters, and drainage tubes temporarily Inserted during open-heart surgery

Bacterial examinations of temporary pacing wires (P-wires), pulmonary arterial (P-A) catheters, and drainage tubes temporarily inserted during open-heart surgery were performed in 213 patients. Bacteria were detected in 19 (2.8%) of 672 specimens gathered from the subject patients, with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) being most frequently observed. P-wires accounted for 17 out of 19 of the culture-positive specimens, and 7 of the P-wires remained in place for more than two weeks. The frequency of infection with the P-wires was significantly higher than with the P-A catheters or drainage tubes. The period of time that the P-wire was left in place significantly longer than for P-A catheter or drainage tube. There was, however, no statistically significant difference between the culture-positive and negative groups in respect to age, detention periods, operation times, CPB times, or length of ICU stay. As a result of these findings, we have concluded that P-wires should be removed as soon as possible following surgery, and in any case, a meticulous care should be taken to prevent transcutaneous infection.