Marie-Josée Caballero1, Nicolas Mongardon2, Hakim Haouache1, Dominique Vodovar1, Issam Ben Ayed1, Lauriane Auvergne3, Marie-Line Hillion4, Françoise Botterel5, Gilles Dhonneur1. 1. Université Paris Est, Faculté de Médecine, Créteil, France; Service d'Anesthésie et des Réanimations Chirurgicales, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, 51 avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94000 Créteil, France. 2. Université Paris Est, Faculté de Médecine, Créteil, France; Service d'Anesthésie et des Réanimations Chirurgicales, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, 51 avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94000 Créteil, France. Electronic address: nicolas.mongardon@aphp.fr. 3. Service d'Anesthésie et des Réanimations Chirurgicales, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, 51 avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94000 Créteil, France. 4. Université Paris Est, Faculté de Médecine, Créteil, France; Service de Chirurgie Cardiaque, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Créteil, France. 5. Université Paris Est, Faculté de Médecine, Créteil, France; Unité de Mycologie, Département de Microbiologie, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mediastinitis is a serious complication after cardiac surgery. While bacteria are the more common pathogens, fungal infections are rare. In particular, several cases of postoperative Aspergillus mediastinitis have been reported, the majority of which had an extremely poor outcome. METHODS: A case of mediastinitis in a 42-year-old patient due to Aspergillus fumigatus after cardiac surgery is described. Two main risk factors were found: cardiogenic shock requiring veno-arterial extracorporeal life support and failure of primary closure of the sternum. A full recovery was attained after surgical drainage and antifungal therapy with liposomal amphotericin B, followed by a combination of voriconazole and caspofungin. The patient was followed for 18 months without relapse. RESULTS: This is an extremely rare case of postoperative Aspergillus mediastinitis exhibiting a favourable outcome. Based on a systematic review of the literature, previous cases were examined with a focus on risk factors, antifungal therapies, and outcomes. CONCLUSION: The clinical features of postoperative Aspergillus mediastinitis may be paucisymptomatic, emphasizing the need for a low index of suspicion in cases of culture-negative mediastinitis or in indolent wound infections. In addition to surgical debridement, the central component of antifungal therapy should include amphotericin B or voriconazole.
BACKGROUND:Mediastinitis is a serious complication after cardiac surgery. While bacteria are the more common pathogens, fungal infections are rare. In particular, several cases of postoperative Aspergillus mediastinitis have been reported, the majority of which had an extremely poor outcome. METHODS: A case of mediastinitis in a 42-year-old patient due to Aspergillus fumigatus after cardiac surgery is described. Two main risk factors were found: cardiogenic shock requiring veno-arterial extracorporeal life support and failure of primary closure of the sternum. A full recovery was attained after surgical drainage and antifungal therapy with liposomal amphotericin B, followed by a combination of voriconazole and caspofungin. The patient was followed for 18 months without relapse. RESULTS: This is an extremely rare case of postoperative Aspergillus mediastinitis exhibiting a favourable outcome. Based on a systematic review of the literature, previous cases were examined with a focus on risk factors, antifungal therapies, and outcomes. CONCLUSION: The clinical features of postoperative Aspergillus mediastinitis may be paucisymptomatic, emphasizing the need for a low index of suspicion in cases of culture-negative mediastinitis or in indolent wound infections. In addition to surgical debridement, the central component of antifungal therapy should include amphotericin B or voriconazole.