An approach to improve early detection of sternal wound infection

Authors

  • Mohammad H. Howlader St George's Hospital
  • John S. Smith St George's Hospital
  • Brendan Madden St George's Hospital

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v35i1.1815

Keywords:

Detection, Infection, Sternal wound

Abstract

We developed a reproducible and reliable method of using a rubber stamp prospectively to document appearances of the sternal wound. 395 consecutive patients undergoing median sternotomy for cardiac procedures were studied over a period of four months. Data were collected by the Senior House Officer during the ward round for all patients at Day 3 and Day 7 post-operatively. Data were entered for 303 patients using the rubber stamp. 78 patients had no stamp entered in their case notes. 21 patients were recorded as having abnormal wounds, 11 of whom confirmed positive microbiological growth.  On the other hand, 282 patients were recorded to have normal wounds, 10 of which had positive bacterial growth. Our initial results have been encouraging with almost 80% compliance and 96% specificity. A simple recording system consisting of proven signs of infection known to medical practitioners was our tool.

Keywords: Detection; Infection; Sternal wound

Online: 21 May 2009

DOI: 10.3329/bmrcb.v35i1.1815

Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2009; 35: 11-14

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
115
PDF
348

Author Biography

Mohammad H. Howlader, St George's Hospital

Presently a surgical trainee at King's College Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK

Downloads

Published

2009-05-15

How to Cite

Howlader, M. H., Smith, J. S., & Madden, B. (2009). An approach to improve early detection of sternal wound infection. Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin, 35(1), 11–14. https://doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v35i1.1815

Issue

Vol. 35 No. 1 (2009)

Section

Research Papers

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms.

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication.

Creative Commons Licence
Articles in the Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).