Surgical Site Infection in Coronary Artery Bypass: Observational Study

Background Preventing surgical site infections plays a crucial role in ensuring patient safety during coronary artery bypass grafting. To reduce incidence rates, it is essential to implement evidence‐based best practice measures. However, there is a noticeable lack of studies assessing healthcare professionals' adherence to these measures, which justifies the present investigation. Aim This study aimed to determine adherence to surgical site infection prevention measures, determine the incidence of surgical site infection and examine the relationship between adherence and infections in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods This was an observational, longitudinal study with a quantitative approach, conducted at a large university hospital, recognized as a regional referral centre for cardiac procedures. A nonprobabilistic recruitment process was employed, and no selection bias was identified. All patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting during the study period from September 2022 to May 2023 were included. Results The mean adherence score to the recommended practices was 71.18%. Among the participants, 24 (55.8%) developed infections, of which 10 (23.3%) required hospital readmission and 3 (7.0%) resulted in death. Conclusions Despite a relatively high adherence to preventive measures, the incidence of surgical site infections was also significant (55.8%), underscoring the urgent need for more effective prevention strategies in coronary artery bypass grafting.