2008 Cardinal Health Patient Safety Grant Recipients >
Providence Hospital
Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Cardiac Surgery: Do Currently Recommended Guidelines for Dosing Achieve Appropriate Serum and Tissue Levels in Patients with Increased Body Mass Indices undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass?
Team members
From left to right:
- Rebecca Mann, Pharm D; John Stone, MD, FACS, FACC (principal investigator); Cindy Angelette, MD, FCAP, FASC; Mark Deakle, MT, ASCP; Heather Carpenter, BSN, MBA; Carolyn Nelson, BSN, MSN; Trish Tanner, RPh, BS, MBA; Shannon Thompson, BSN (study coordinator); Michelle Swearingen, BSN; and Dianne Byrd, BSN (not pictured).
In a careful review of post-operative infections in the Providence Hospital cardiac surgery program, it became apparent that patients with larger body mass indices (BMI’s) comprised a disproportionate number of the post-operative deep sternal wound (DSW) infections. Though the infection rate was not alarming (1.8%), we questioned whether the genuinely obese patients simply might not be getting a sufficient dose of prophylactic antibiotics to help prevent post-operative infections. Since this complication is devastating to the patient and very costly to the entire healthcare system, an attempt was made to find information in the literature about this potential issue. There was nothing that directly addressed serum and tissue levels in patients with increased BMI’s who were also undergoing surgery utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass. This study is an attempt to clarify this issue and may lead to a revision of the dosing protocol in patients with high BMI’s.
Program inquiries
John E. Stone, Jr., M.D.
Clinical Director of Cardiovascular Services
Phone: 251.633.1520
Providence Hospital
6801 Airport Blvd.
Mobile, AL 36685
U.S.A. - English
