Mycoplasma hominis infection in heart and lung transplantation
Received 6 September 2001; accepted 18 January 2002.
Abstract
“Culture-negative” wound infection and mediastinitis secondary to Mycoplasma hominis have been reported after cardiothoracic surgery but no case cluster has ever been described. We report 4 cases of infection in 3 cardiac and 1 bilateral sequential lung transplant recipient over 3 weeks of hospitalization. Successful treatment was achieved with early aggressive surgical intervention and combination antibiotics of clindamycin, doxycycline and/or ciprofloxacin. This cluster raises the question of nosocomial transmission of infection and supports a recommendation for single-room isolation and universal precautions for infected individuals.
aHeart–Lung Transplant Unit, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Reprint requests: Dr. Peter Hopkins, Heart–Lung Transplant Unit, de Lacy 14, St Vincent’s Hospital, Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney 2010, Australia. Telephone: +61-2-8382-1111. Fax: +61-2-8382-2505