THE INFLUENCE OF ANTIMICROBIAL PERIOPERATIVNE PROPHYLAXIS ON THE INCIDENCE OF WOUND INFECTION IN CARDIOSURGICAL PATIENTS Research objectives: The objectives of the research were to assess the prevalence of surgical wound infection and to assess the association of age, gender, administered antimicrobial prophylaxis, comorbidity, type of cardiac surgery, body mass index, and hypersensitivity to antibiotics with the frequency of surgical wound infections. Respondents and methods: The research included 94 participants who underwent the most common types of cardiac surgery. The demographic data of the subjects, as well as all other data used in the research, were taken from the hospital information system. Results: Out of eight subjects with a wound infection, one had a surgical wound infection on the leg, and the other seven had a sternal wound infections, i.e. the prevalence of sternal wound was 7.4%, which is in line with or slightly higher than the relevant literature data. The male gender was prevailing among the participants, as well as the older age, which corresponds to the distribution of cardiovascular diseases within the population. No relationship was found neither between surgical wound infection and demographic data of the respondents, nor between wound infection and perioperative data, nor between surgical wound infection and comorbidities. All the participants received the same standard prophylaxis with cefazolin. None of the respondents with a history of drug hypersensitivity had a clear contraindication that would prevent them from receiving cefazolin. Rheumatic diseases were found to be associated with elevated inflammatory parameters or infection that does not affect the wound or secretion from the wound, which is related to the therapy these participants were taking. Conclusions: The prevalence of surgical wound infection was 8.5%, and age, gender, choice of antimicrobial prophylaxis, comorbidities, type of procedure, body mass index and hypersensitivity to antibiotics were not related to the frequency of surgical wound infection.