Mycoplasma hominis infections in deep sternal wound infections post-cardiac surgery: insights from three case reports.

BACKGROUND

Postoperative deep sternal wound infections (DSWIs) following cardiac surgery are increasingly common due to various factors, including high tension at the sternotomy site and the presence of obesity. While Mycoplasma hominis primarily colonizes the urogenital tract, it can cause opportunistic infections, including surgical wound infections, particularly in patients with specific risk factors such as immunosuppression or surgical trauma.

CASE PRESENTATION: In this study, we reported three cases of post-cardiac surgery DSWIs attributable to M. hominis. The clinical symptoms manifested in these patients were fever accompanied by clear exudate from the wound, with elevated C-reactive protein levels evident in serological tests. It is noteworthy that all three patients achieved significant therapeutic outcomes following the application of active surgical debridement and the administration of quinolone antibiotics for a duration exceeding two weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

These cases underscore the importance of recognizing the clinical features and effective treatment strategies for DSWIs caused by M. hominis, thereby warranting increased clinical awareness and attention.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.