A new case of Mycoplasma hominis mediastinitis and sternal osteitis after cardiac surgery

Abstract

We report a case of nosocomial mediastinitis and sternal osteitis due to M. hominis after open-heart surgery in an immuno-competent patient. This infection has been diagnosed by incubating the culture media for an extended period of time, and sequencing 16S rDNA directly from the clinical samples.

Mycoplasma hominis periaortic abscess following heart–lung transplantation

“…Clinical characteristics of M. hominis infections subsequent to thoracic surgery are summarized in review articles . According to these reviews, the types of infection varied, ranging from sternal wound infection, pericarditis, and empyema, to mediastinitis . Patients who underwent lung, heart, and heart–lung transplantation (similar to our case) have also been described .…”

“…We described possibly the first case of M. hominis ‐associated periaortic abscess that occurred in a young patient after heart–lung transplantation. Clinical characteristics of M. hominis infections subsequent to thoracic surgery are summarized in review articles . According to these reviews, the types of infection varied, ranging from sternal wound infection, pericarditis, and empyema, to mediastinitis .…”

“…M. hominis ‐associated post‐sternotomy mediastinitis is rare but has occasionally been reported. According to previous reviews, > 30 cases were reported before 1999 and 18 cases have occurred within the last two decades . All of those cases were sternal wound infections, pericarditis, pleuritis, or mediastinitis.…”

First Case of Skin and Soft Tissue Infection Caused by Mycoplasma hominis in a Pediatric Immunocompromised Patient

“…Thus, infections of M. hominis are usually associated with endocervicitis and pelvic inflammatory diseases. Although rare, M. hominis can also cause various extra-urogenital infections, such as skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) [12], central nervous system (CNS) infection, mediastinitis, and disseminated infection [3456]. Because M. hominis lacks a cell wall and shows resistance to cell wall-acting antibiotics, including carbapenem and glycopeptides, it is important to accurately identify this bacterium and initiate appropriate treatment in the case of infection.…”

“…Identification of M. hominis infections by culture is challenging because it is a fastidious process, and the median time needed for the growth of M. hominis is six days [3]. Therefore, when a Gram stain reveals abundant neutrophils but no bacteria, clinical microbiologists should suspect the possibility of infection caused by Mycoplasma , and use of special media (IST2 kit and A7, A8 agar) and culture period extension should be considered.…”