Topical Vancomycin in Cardiac surgery to reduce Sternal wound Infections: A Randomized Controlled trial at a Tertiary Cardiac Care facility

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of topical vancomycin in reducing the incidence of sternal wound infections (SWI) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Study design: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). Material and methods: This double blinded randomized clinical trial was carried out on 276 patients scheduled for elective CABG surgery. Patients were divided into two equal groups. In patients of group A (n=138) topical vancomycin solution was used in the sternal wound, and patients in group B (n=138) topical normal saline before sternal wound closure in coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The incidence of sternal wound infection was followed over an 18 months period. Major risk factors like diabetes mellitus (DM), smoking, and prolonged operation time i,e cardiopulmonary bypass time (CPB time) and cross clamp time were also evaluated.