ROLE OF ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERURIA IN SURGICAL SITE INFECTION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CARDIOVASCULAR SURGICAL PROCEDURES

Introduction:Asymptomatic bacteruria (ASB) is defined as the presence of significant bacteruria [>10⁵) in a clean voided midstream urine from a patient without fever or symptoms of UTI. ASB should be screened and treated only in pregnant patients and individuals prior to their urological procedures as recommended by Infectious disease society of America in 2005. ASB is common in healthy women, older women,men, diabetic patients, patients with Indwelling catheters and spinal cord injury, treatment is not recommended for such individuals. Surgeons all over the world perceive any undiagnosed infection in the pre-operative period as the source of SSI, so its prevention is necessary .Its not clear whether this is true for a ASB as well.

Aim: identify whether an association exists between the preoperative presence of asymptomatic bacteriuria or urinary tract infection and SSI in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery.

Material and methods:The current study was conducted over a period of one year which included 3025 patients. Midstream urine was collected asceptically and semiquatitative culture was done on chromogenic media. Further identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing was done by Vitek 2 system.

Results:SSI was found more in Diabetic than non diabetic patients, more in females than males.

The infective organisms found in SSI were are not found the same as in the pre-operative ASB patients.

Conclusion: The presence of bacteriuria in asymptomatic patients is not a risk factor for presenting SSI in cardiovascular surgery. Pre-operative screening with urinalysis or urine culture would not be recommended for patients without clinical symptoms of UTI.