Post-operative mediastinitis, pleuritis and pericarditis due to Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum with a fatal outcome

J Med Microbiol. 2008 May;57(Pt 5):656-657. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.47632-0.

Abstract

Post-sternotomy mediastinitis, although infrequent, is a potentially life-threatening complication of cardiac surgery. We report an unusual case of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum post-surgical mediastinitis with persistent pleural and pericardial effusion. Clinical manifestations and response to therapy are described, and the difficulties of establishing the diagnosis are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mediastinitis / drug therapy
  • Mediastinitis / microbiology*
  • Mycoplasma Infections / complications
  • Mycoplasma Infections / microbiology
  • Mycoplasma hominis* / isolation & purification
  • Pericarditis / drug therapy
  • Pericarditis / microbiology*
  • Pleurisy / drug therapy
  • Pleurisy / microbiology*
  • Surgical Wound Infection / drug therapy
  • Surgical Wound Infection / microbiology
  • Ureaplasma Infections / complications
  • Ureaplasma Infections / microbiology
  • Ureaplasma urealyticum* / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents