La infección profunda de herida esternal (DSWI, por sus siglas en inglés) con mediastinitis purulenta es una complicación potencialmente mortal de la esternotomía media. Cuando están presentes signos locales en la herida e inflamación sistémica, se requiere un abordaje terapéutico estructurado y multimodal.
Mediastinitis and deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) are devastating and life-threatening complications after median sternotomy.
Signs and symptoms of mediastinitis typically present within 30 days of cardiac surgery.
Local signs include purulent drainage from the sternal wound and sternal instability.
Sternal SSI is therefore initially treated with IV antibiotics.
As Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) is often multiresistant and MRSA is common in some centres, first-line antibiotic treatment is commonly IV vancomycin, until results from antimicrobial susceptibility tests become available.
Cloxacillin and other beta-lactamase-resistant staphylococcal antibiotics are commonly used when infection with either S. aureus or CoNS has been established.
Although the most appropriate surgical approach for the treatment of sternal SSI is still debated, there is a consensus that at least wound debridement is necessary.
Negative pressure wound therapy is recommended either as a destination or as a bridge prior to final surgical closure in cases of post-sternotomy mediastinitis.
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