Temporary bacteremia due to intraoperative blood salvage during cardiovascular surgery

Background The significance of positive blood cultures obtained after intraoperative blood salvage is unclear. Methods Sixty-four patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass and 52 patients with use of a blood salvage device underwent blood culture and examination of inflammatory responses. Results Positive blood cultures of transfused blood were identified in 16% of patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass and 67% with blood salvage. Thoracic operations utilizing either device demonstrated positive cultures in 21% of cases, whereas 70% of abdominal operations demonstrated positive cultures. However, on postoperative day 1, all blood cultures were negative. In addition, there was no significant difference in the inflammatory responses between culture-positive and culture-negative groups. Conclusions Although there is a high incidence of positive blood culture present during blood salvage and abdominal surgery, postoperative host responses are similar in both groups. These data support the safe use of intraoperative blood salvage in elective cardiovascular surgery with attention to routine sterile technique.