Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in descending necrotizing mediastinitis from retropharyngeal perforation: a rare event

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis is a rare but serious infection of the interpleural spaces and mediastinal connective tissue from the cervical region to the diaphragm that spreads rapidly along fascial planes. This report describes an unusual presentation of descending necrotizing mediastinitis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing Vol. 37; no. 2; p. 209
Main Authors Park, Habeeba, Hickman, Natelege, Freund, Florence, Skaryak, Lynne A, Fishel, Rhonda
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.03.2010
Subjects
Adult
Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage
Debridement
Female
Humans
Mediastinitis - diagnosis
Mediastinitis - surgery
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Retropharyngeal Abscess - complications
Staphylococcal Infections - diagnosis
Staphylococcal Infections - surgery
Sternotomy
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Summary:Descending necrotizing mediastinitis is a rare but serious infection of the interpleural spaces and mediastinal connective tissue from the cervical region to the diaphragm that spreads rapidly along fascial planes. This report describes an unusual presentation of descending necrotizing mediastinitis in an otherwise healthy 25-year-old woman infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, whose management required open sternotomy with frequent debridement. The mainstays of descending necrotizing mediastinitis management are early diagnosis, aggressive surgical debridement and drainage, and appropriate antibiotic therapy.
ISSN:1528-3976
DOI:10.1097/WON.0b013e3181d0feea