ABSTRACT
To evaluate that duration of prophylactic antibiotics in patients undergoing open-heart surgery have an impact on deep sternal infection. [Mediastinitis]. Cross sectional comparative study on patient undergoing open-heart surgery. This study was conducted at cardiac surgery department, Mayo Hospital Lahore. It included patients operated from May 2005 to July 2006. Duration of study was 14 months. Total of 200 patients undergoing open-heart surgery were included in the study. We compared 100 patients, receiving less than 48 hours of prophylactic antibiotics [Group A] with another 100 patients, receiving more than 48 hours of prophylactic antibiotics [Group B]. The endpoint of study was development of mediastinitis requiring sternal rewiring. Ten patients were rewired for sternal dehiscence [5%]. Test of proportion was applied and it was concluded that there is no difference in proportion of infection in the two groups. [p value of 0.05]. Conclusions: The results provide evidence that there is no need to continue antibiotic prophylaxis for more than 48 hours in patients undergoing open-heart surgery