Effect of time to onset on clinical features and prognosis of post-sternotomy mediastinitis

Incubation time affects the clinical features and outcome of many nosocomial infections. However, its role in the setting of post-sternotomy mediastinitis (PSM) has not been specifically studied. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of time to onset of PSM on the clinical presentation and outcomes of patients. Hospital records of 197 patients who developed PSM over a 10-year period and were treated by closed drainage using Redon catheters were reviewed retrospectively. Follow-up was complete for all included patients (median of 19 months); 98 patients developed early-onset PSM (time from initial operation to PSM