Kaenta Phothiyane and Malinda Close worked together with cardiovascular surgeons Thomas Winkler, MD, and Juan Oyarzun, MD, to decrease deep sternal wound infections (DSWI) in cardiovascular surgical patients. Over the last year their EBP plan reduced DSWI to zero, whereas four patients experienced DSWI in the calendar year before their work started. This was accomplished by identification of the problem, literature review, adjustment in order sets, treatment plans and implementation. While Kaenta and Malinda focused upon patient identification, cardiovascular surgeons agreed to try a treatment called, "short term negative pressure wound therapy." Sometimes high risk patients needing this treatment were identified preoperative on the CVCU. Other times the surgeons made the request during the surgical procedure. Together these leaders made a big difference in patient outcomes by reducing infections that decrease quality of life and increase hospital costs.