Risk factors associated with positive bacterial culture in salvaged red blood cells during cardiac surgery and postoperative infection incidence: A prospective cohort study.

was the most common pathogen detected in sRBCs in the culture (+) group in this study, identifying it as a potential driver of postoperative infection. Positive sRBCs culture may contribute to postoperative infection and its incidence was significantly associated with patient BMI, history of smoking, operative duration, the number of staff in the operating room and surgical case order.