MYCOBACTERIUM-FORTUITUM INFECTION OF THE STERNUM - REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND CASE ILLUSTRATION

Sternal wound infection with atypical mycobacteria following open hear t surgery is a rare occurrence. Previous reports have described infect ion by Mycobacterium fortuitum, an acid-fast bacillus and member of a larger family of rapidly growing mycobacteria. The source and mode of transmission have not been identified. Surgical debridement and the co mbination of aminoglycosides and quinolones have been shown to be effe ctive methods of treatment. More recently, clarithromycin has been sho wn to be the drug of choice against rapidly growing mycobacteria. We d escribe a 49-year-old woman who underwent infundibular stenosis repair and in whom M fortuitum sternal osteomyelitis developed. Total sterne ctomy, muscle flap reconstruction, and antibiotic treatment successful ly eradicated the infection.