IJCS | Volume 31, Nº2, March / April 2018

170 data obtained from paper medical records can show weaknesses such as missing data and inaccurate information. Additionally, the studywas performedwith data from a single hospital, and is not a representative sample of the state of Minas Gerais. Conclusion Many risk factors have been associated with the development of mediastinitis after cardiac surgery. However, it has been observed there is no definite consensus about the most important risk factors associated with mediastinitis and whether each factor can be considered an independent risk predictor for mediastinitis in the postoperative period. This study showed amale predominance, mean age of 58.8 years, and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) as the most common type of surgery, in agreement with the literature findings. The characteristics of the patients who had a diagnosis of mediastinitis comprised a higher proportion of males, a higher number of myocardial revascularization surgeries, and a higher death rate. Regarding the risk factors, the following were observed: a higher mean number of preoperative risk factors, longer time of hospital stay and greater occurrence of postoperative fever. The microorganism most frequently found in patients withmediastinitis was Staphylococcus aureus , and the presence of Gram-positive bacteria was elevated. The results indicate the need to investigate the factors responsible for the onset of this complication, aiming at the prevention and control of healthcare‑associated infections to improve patient quality of care and safety. Efforts should focus on risk factor control prior to the procedure, as well as the improvement of measures that may reduce or eliminate the complication onset, aiming at the prevention and control of healthcare‑associated infections. Therefore, it is necessary to train the health teams to control the risk factors associated with mediastinitis, as well as reinforcing preventive measures, to avoid patient colonization by microorganisms. Author contributions Conception and design of the research: Pinto DCG, Jentzsch NS. Acquisition of data: Pinto DCG, Gonçalves FL, Jentzsch NS. Analysis and interpretation of the data: Pinto DCG, Bahia Neto AFC, Gomes IC, Sternick EB, Almeida AM, Jentzsch NS. Statistical analysis: Gomes IC, Almeida AM. Writing of the manuscript: Pinto DCG, Bahia Neto AFC, Almeida AM. Critical revision of the manuscript for intellectual content: Pinto DCG, Bahia Neto AFC, Gomes IC, Sternick EB, Almeida AM, Jentzsch NS. Supervision / as the major investigador: Almeida AM. Potential Conflict of Interest No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported. Sources of Funding There were no external funding sources for this study. Study Association This article is part of the thesis of master submitted by Débora Cristine Gomes Pinto, from Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais. Ethics approval and consent to participate The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Hospital Universitário São José/ Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, in Belo Horizonte (MG), under CAAE number 36416014.1.0000.5134. 1. Sá MP, Soares EF, Santos CA, Figueiredo OJ, Lima RO, Escobar RR, et al. Risk factors for mediastinitis after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Rev Bras Cir Cardiovasc. 2011;26(1):27-35. doi: http://dx.doi. org/10.1590/S0102-76382011000100008. 2. HoranTC, AndrusM, DudeckMA. CDC/NHSNsurveillance definition of health care-associated infection and criteria for specific types of infections in the acute care setting. Am J Infect Control. 2008;36(5):309-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2008.03.002. Erratum in: Am J Infect Control. 2008;36(9):655. 3. Magalhães MG, Alves LM, Alcantara LF, Bezerra MM. Post-operative mediastinitis in a Heart Hospital of Recife: contributions for nursing care. Rev Esc EnfermUSP. 2012;46(4):865-71. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/ S0080-62342012000400012. 4. Souza VC, Freire AN, Tavares-Neto J. Mediastinite pós-esternotomia longitudinal para cirurgia cardíaca: 10 anos de análise. Rev Bras Cir Cardiovasc. 2002;17(3):266-70. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102- 76382002000300012. References Pinto et al. Factors Associated with Post-Sternotomy Mediastinitis Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2018;31(2)163-172 Original Article