Variability of anti-staphylococcal antibodies in healthy volunteers and pre-cardiac surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: Pre-operative antibody levels have been shown to be inversely related to development of post-operative complications. Staphylococcal infection is a major source of morbidity following surgery.

METHODS: We examined the variability of anti-staphylococcal antibody levels across a group of healthy volunteers and compared this with patients scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery.

RESULTS: Pre-operative cardiac surgical patients exhibited significantly higher levels of staphylococcal antibodies compared with healthy volunteers.

CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between pre-surgery staphylococcal antibody levels and outcome warrants further investigation.