Vancomycin and Negative Pressure Therapy for Post-sternotomy Deep Sternal Wound Infection

Only a limited number of studies have been published that monitored the penetration of antibiotics from blood into exudate in patients treated with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), and that evaluated the adequacy of current dosage regimens according to antibiotic tissue concentrations. A higher migration rate of several antibiotics (including vancomycin) to exudate has been reported in patients with skin ulcers, skin defects, burns, and traumatic wounds treated with NPWT compared to patients without NPWT. In the present study, the investigators will evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile and wound penetration of vancomycin in open-heart surgery patients with post-sternotomy deep sternal wound infection receiving NPWT.