Surgical site infection (SSI) is a costly and morbid healthcare-associated infection. Mediastinitis is one of the more severe classifications of coronary artery bypass graft infection and is associated with a mortality risk of 33% (Margereson and Riley, 2003). Moreover, SSI following coronary artery bypass graft results in a longer stay in the intensive care unit, longer overall hospital stay and trebles hospital costs (Broex et al, 2009; Graf et al, 2010). Furthermore, SSI places the individual at increased risk of sepsis (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence [NICE], 2013). Thus, SSI in cardiac surgery patients places a considerable burden on both patient recovery and hospital resources.