Mycobacterium abscessus bacteremia in an immunocompetent patient following a coronary artery bypass graft.

Abstract

Sternal osteomyelitis with bacteremia due to Mycobacterium abscessus is rarely seen in immunocompetent hosts. Routine pyogenic cultures in these cases are often negative causing a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Clinicians and microbiologists should rule out the possibility of infection due to nontuberculous mycobacteria while managing cases of nonhealing culture-negative wounds with conventional antibiotic therapy. We report a case of bacteremia secondary to a nonhealing sternal wound due to M. abscessus. A combination of radical debridement and prolonged antimicrobial therapy helped in the complete eradication of the infection.

• Authors: Smita Sarma, Sunil Sharma, Usha K Baweja, Yatin Mehta
• Journal: Journal of cardiovascular disease research (J Cardiovasc Dis Res) Vol. 2 Issue 1 Pg. 80-2 (Jan 2011) ISSN: 0976-2833 [Electronic] India
• PMID: 21716760 (Publication Type: Case Reports)