Source-case investigation of Mycobacterium wolinskyi cardiac surgical site infection

C. Dupont (1) , D. Terru (2) , S. Aguilhon (3) , J.-M. Frapier (3) , M.-P. Paquis (2) , D. Morquin (4) , B. Lamy (1, 2) , S. Godreuil (2) , S. Parer (1, 2) , A. Lotthé (1, 2) , E. Jumas-Bilak (1, 2) , S. Romano-Bertrand (1, 2)

1 PHySE - Pathogènes Hydriques Santé Environnement
2 CHRU Montpellier - Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire [Montpellier]
3 Service de chirurgie thoracique et cardio-vasculaire
4 Département Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital Universitaire, Montpellier, France

The non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) Mycobacterium wolinskyi caused bacteraemia and massive colonization of an aortic prosthesis in a patient 16 days after cardiac surgery, necessitating repeat surgery and targeted antimicrobial chemotherapy. The infection control team investigated the source and conditions of infection. Peri-operative management of the patient complied with recommendations. The environmental investigation showed that although M. wolinskyi was not recovered, diverse NTM species were present in water from point-of-use taps and heater-cooler units for extracorporeal circulation. This case and increasing evidence of emerging NTM infections in cardiac surgery led to the implementation of infection control procedures in cardiac surgery wards.

Mots clés: Cardiac surgery; Environmental investigation; Extracorporeal circulation; Infection control; Mycobacterium wolinskyi; Non-tuberculous mycobacteria; Surgical site infection

Domaines: Maladies infectieuses

C. Dupont, D. Terru, S. Aguilhon, J.-M. Frapier, M.-P. Paquis, et al.. Source-case investigation of Mycobacterium wolinskyi cardiac surgical site infection. Journal of Hospital Infection, 2016, 93 (3), pp.235 - 239. ⟨10.1016/j.jhin.2016.03.024⟩. ⟨hal-01868099⟩