Approximately 400 000 cardiac surgeries are performed annually in the United States.1  Patient outcomes after surgery depend on multiple factors, including existing comorbidities, perioperative education, glycemic control, surgical incision management, and socioeconomic status.2  In addition to the intraoperative risks, the postoperative period is critical in determining long-term outcomes. Sternal wound infections (SWIs) are complications associated with cardiac surgery that are multifactorial but preventable. The most significant consequence of SWI is delayed patient recovery with associated increased costs.

Patients who undergo cardiac surgery with sternotomy are at risk of experiencing SWI. It is estimated that about 4% of patients develop such infections, which have major adverse consequences for patient outcomes and long-term prognosis.3  Sternal wounds are categorized as superficial or deep, depending on the infection source.3  Superficial SWIs involve the skin and subcutaneous tissue, whereas deep SWIs are beneath the fascial plane. Deep SWI involving the mediastinal...

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