Introduction: Postoperative wound infection is a complication that occurs after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of wound infections after coronary artery bypass graft surgery among the patients operated in Ghaem Hospital in the city of Mashhad from 2009-2011.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in the years 2009 to 2011 on 360 patients who underwent open heart surgery in Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad city. Data collection instruments consisted of demographic characteristics form and questionnaires concerning history of diseases, site of wound infection, depth of wound (deep or superficial), and the type of micro-organism growth. Patients were followed for 3 months, and the incidence of sternal and lower extremities wound infections was recorded. The data were analyzed in SPSS (V: 16) using chi-square test. The significant level was set at p<0.05.

Results: We evaluated 360 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The total prevalence of wound infection after surgery was 84 (36%). From among patients who had wound infections, 54 patients (64.5%) had superficial infection (8.3% of the total) and 30 patients (36%) had deep infection (15% of the total). Sternal wound infection after surgery was observed in 49 patients (58%) and lower extremity in 35 cases (42%). Micro-organisms that grew in the cultivation of the sternum area included 8​​ cases of Enterococci cases, 9 Staphylococci cases, and 29 negative cultures. In foreleg area, 3 cases were Enterococci, 5 Staphylococcus cases, and 32 negative culture.

Conclusions: Our findings confirm that the postoperative wound infection after coronary artery bypass graft surgery is a common complication and new preventive strategies should be developed to reduce it.