Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii mediastinitis

Abstract

Introduction: Mediastinitis remains one of the most serious complications of cardiac surgery. The reported incidence is 1–4%, while the related mortality varies from 10–47%.

Case Presentation: A patient with triple vessel disease (TVD) was hospitalized at our clinic for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The preoperative examination results were normal. We performed standard CABG under extracorporeal circulation. The patient had a favorable postoperative course. On the fifth postoperative day, the wound showed seropurulent drainage. The treatment of the patient’s wound continued with open dressing, negative wound pressure device, debridement, minimal muscle plasticity, and total bilateral muscle pectoral flap plasticity. The infecting microorganism was identified as multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumani, and systemic antibiotic therapy was initiated. The patient had “per secundum closure” of the wound after all these efforts. The wound healed completely 2 months after discharge, and the patient was in good health.

Conclusions: Mediastinitis is associated with high mortality and high financial and human costs. The occurrence of this high-risk complication can be prevented through constant vigilance at every step from admission to discharge.