[Wound infection and its treatment. In thoracic and cardiovascular surgery].

Wound infections following aseptic operations are considered to be hospital infections. Among 4,166 patients operated on between 1973 and 1980 for cardiovascular diseases, there have been wound infections in 58 cases (1.4%) and associated sternal or mediastinal infection in 11 cases (0.26%). One-third of the infections were caused by staphylococci. In superficial infections therapy consisted in healing by second intention. In deep infections surgical intervention with débridement and irrigation was the method of choice.