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. 1978 Jan;75(1):91-6.

Mycobacterium fortuitum epidemics after open-heart surgery

F Robicsek, H K Daugherty, J W Cook, J G Selle, T N Masters, P R O'Bar, C R Fernandez, C U Mauney, D M Calhoun
  • PMID: 619181

Mycobacterium fortuitum epidemics after open-heart surgery

F Robicsek et al. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1978 Jan.

Abstract

We present the clinical and epidemiological features of Mycobacterium fortuitum epidemics involving 19 patients who underwent open-heart surgery. The source of the infection could not be identified. However, bone wax and homografts utilized at that time have been suspected. The infected patients responded poorly to antibiotic management and their courses in most cases were influenced beneficially by total sternectomy and transplantation of the omentum into the mediastinum. The emergence of M. fortuitum may represent an aggressive bacterial strain resistant to presently used broad-spectrum antibiotic drugs.

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