Deep sternal woundi nfections(DSWI) continue to be a relatively uncommon event occurring in about 1%–2% of all patients undergoing cardiac surgery.However,the sheer number of cardiac surgery patients and the relatively high mortality associated with DSWIs makes them of clinical
relevance.This review will describe the current incidence of DSWIs and their associated morbidity and mortality as well as riskf actors for the development of this complication.The microbiology of DSWIs will be reviewed and strategies to prevent these complications will be discussed with a focus on interventions that may be undertaken by the clinical anesthesiologist.
Keywords: wound infection;chest surgery;anesthesia;infectious diseases;mediastinitis.