Cross-contamination between Tracheostomy and Sternotomy Following Percutaneous Dilation Tracheostomy and Its Influence on Sternal Wound Infections in Cardiac Surgery

Abstract

Background: The impact of percutaneous dilation tracheostomy (PDT) on development of post-median sternotomy wound infection (SWI) is still debated. In a retrospective study, we aimed to investigate the frequency of cross-contamination and whether PDT changes the microbial spectrum in SWI.