NASAL CARRIAGE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS AS A MAJOR RISK FACTOR FOR WOUND INFECTIONS AFTER CARDIAC-SURGERY

To evaluate the importance of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus as a risk factor for the development of wound infection at the sternot omy site after cardiac surgery, a case-control study was done. The stu dy population consisted of 1980 consecutive patients. Cases were all p atients who developed a sternal wound infection from which S. aureus w as cultured. Forty cases were identified, and 120 controls were select ed. Preoperative nasal carriage of S. aureus, insulin-dependent diabet es mellitus, and younger age were identified as significant risk facto rs. The crude odds ratio of nasal carriage was 9.6 (95% confidence int erval, 3.9-23.7). The median postoperative length of hospital stay for cases was 30 days longer than for controls. Mortality was also signif icantly higher for cases than for controls (10.0% and 0.8%, respective ly).