"Microbial Profiling and Hematological Evaluation of Postoperative Infections in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Patients with Congenital Heart Disease"

Authors

  • Jetha Yogal Kumar
  • Jeevan Dass
  • Kalpana
  • Irshad Ahmed
  • FNU Isaac
  • Sonia Khan
  • Mahjabeen Mahjabeen
  • Bheru lal
  • Syed Muhammad Rayyan Ali
  • Misha Fatima

Keywords:

Prevalence, cardiac surgery, children, nosocomial infection, congenital heart diseases

Abstract

Background:Children undergoing cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease are indeed a vulnerable population, prone to developing various infections due to several factors. These young patients often require invasive medical interventions, prolonged hospital stays and exposure to multiple devices such as ventilators, central venous catheters, and urinary catheters, all of which increase their risk of acquiring nosocomial infections.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and microbiology of nosocomial infections and hematological assessment  in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) after cardiac surgery.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted and  taken data from 135 pediatric patients who underwent open-heart surgery between 2023-2024. Demographic and clinical information were recorded, and findings were analyzed using SPSS 21.

Results:Among 135 patients, 68 developed infections (11.96% prevalence), with 81 males (60.1%) and 54 females (39.9%), and a mean age of 8.06 ± 3.86 months. The most common pathogens were Acinetobacter (14.1%), Pseudomonas spp. (9.6%), Enterobacter (9.6%), Corynebacterium diphtheria (7.4%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (7.4%), and Candida albicans (10.4%). Infection rates didn't differ significantly across cardiac abnormalities, sex, age, or weight groups. However, patients with positive cultures had longer hospital stays, intubation, bypass time, and urinary catheterization.

Conclusions: The most common infections in children after heart surgery were caused by Acinetobacter, C. albicans, Pseudomonas, and Enterobacter. Reducing hospitalization, intubation, bypass, and urinary catheterization time may help decrease nosocomial infections and treatment costs

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Published

2025-06-10

How to Cite

1.
Kumar JY, Dass J, Kalpana K, Ahmed I, Isaac F, Khan S, et al. "Microbial Profiling and Hematological Evaluation of Postoperative Infections in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Patients with Congenital Heart Disease". J Neonatal Surg [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 10 [cited 2026 Apr. 14];14(32S):9936-45. Available from: https://jneonatalsurg.com/index.php/jns/article/view/9686

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 32S (2025): Journal of Neonatal Surgery

Section

Original Article

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