Mycobacterium massiliense: an emerging pathogen in cardiovascular infections

• Published in: Asian cardiovascular & thoracic annals 2013-02, Vol.21 (1), p.77-78
• Main Authors: Sadanandan, Rajesh, Kuriakose, Kudakachira Mathew, Ramanarayanan, Piravom Venkiteswarier, Philomina, Beena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aneurysm, False - diagnosis; Aneurysm, False - microbiology; Aneurysm, False - therapy; Aneurysm, Infected - diagnosis; Aneurysm, Infected - microbiology; Aneurysm, Infected - therapy; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Aortic Aneurysm - diagnosis; Aortic Aneurysm - microbiology; Aortic Aneurysm - therapy; Aortic Valve - surgery; Cardiac Surgical Procedures - adverse effects; Child, Preschool; Endocarditis, Bacterial - diagnosis; Endocarditis, Bacterial - microbiology; Endocarditis, Bacterial - therapy; Fatal Outcome; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial - surgery; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation - adverse effects; Humans; Male; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous - diagnosis; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous - microbiology; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous - therapy; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria - isolation & purification; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria - pathogenicity; Reoperation; Sternotomy - adverse effects; Surgical Wound Infection - diagnosis; Surgical Wound Infection - microbiology; Surgical Wound Infection - therapy; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0218-4923; 1816-5370
• DOI: 10.1177/0218492312444737

We describe 2 cases of Mycobacterium massiliense infection after cardiac surgery. A 68-year-old man developed high-grade fever and sternal wound infection 5 weeks after aortic valve replacement. He was discharged after antibiotic treatment but readmitted with pseudoaneurysm of the aortic root. He succumbed to hemorrhage 2 weeks after reoperation. A 7-year-old boy developed endocarditis after atrial septal defect patch repair, and underwent replacement of the patch. Samples from both patients grew Mycobacterium massiliense.