Infectious complications after cardiac transplantation (a hospital period)
Infectious complications of bacterial nature were retrospectively analyzed in cardiac graft recipients over the hospital period of 2004-2008. Survival rates were 66.7%. The leading types of infectious complications included infections of the respiratory tract and blood flow. There were superficial sternal wounds; mediastinitis was absent. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) was temporarily used in some patients. MCS was life-saving although it increased the incidence and severity of infectious complications. The causative agents of bacteremia were mostly gram-negative microorganisms. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were prevalent in sternal wounds; nonfermentative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were predominant in the respiratory tract. The problem of the prevention of infectious complications after orthotopic cardiac transplantation is discussed.