@article{Prendin_Tabacco_Fazio_de Barbieri_2021, title={Management of pediatric cardiac surgery wound: a literature review}, volume={92}, url={https://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/11269}, DOI={10.23750/abm.v92i4.11269}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sternal wound infection is a severe complication of cardiac surgery in the pediatric population (0-18 years old) that can lead to increased morbidity, mortality, and prolonged hospitalization. Health professionals have the ability to perform some interventions during the pre, intra and post-surgery to correctly manage sternal wounds, with the goal of preventing infections. <strong>Objectives: </strong>To identify and discuss current best practice in the prevention, incidence, and treatment of infections of the cardiac surgery site in the pediatric population. <strong>Methods: </strong>Between February 20<sup>th</sup> 2021 and February 28<sup>th</sup> 2021 we consulted the PubMed database adopting<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed"> full text, 20 years, Humans, English, Child aged 0 to 18 years</a> as criteria. Twenty articles out of sixty-six were considered relevant to this study. These were divided into four themes. <strong>Results:</strong> All studies highlight the lack of standard guidelines for managing pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Some centers developed protocols for managing antibiotic prophylaxis supported by measurable interventions; others implemented infection surveillance systems involving families taking care of patients after hospital discharge. <strong>Discussions: </strong>the identification of healthcare-associated infections in the pediatric population after cardiac surgery is useful in all peri-operative phases. The limited and restricted literature connected to single centers, with relatively small sample sizes, the use of a single database. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> There is a lack of standard guidelines. The prevention of site infection ought to the goal of reducing surgical site infections. Building a network between the multidisciplinary staff and the pediatric patient’s family improves the infection surveillance system, reducing the incidence of infections. </p>}, number={4}, journal={Acta Biomedica Atenei Parmensis}, author={Prendin, Angela and Tabacco, Benedicta and Fazio, Paola Claudia and de Barbieri, Ilaria}, year={2021}, month={Sep.}, pages={e2021203} }