Sternal osteomyelitis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus years after coronary artery bypass grafting: A case report

• DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2022.e01638
• Publication Date: 2022-11-01T07:17:14Z
• Authors: Austin Hingtgen; Rishav Aggarwal; Shreya Avilala; Azmath Mohammed; Rosemary Kelly
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; Aspergillus; 0302 clinical medicine; Osteomyelitis; Case Report; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Sternal; CABG; Cardiac

Sternal infection after cardiac surgery is an infrequent post-operative complication. Aspergillus sternal osteomyelitis is a rarity. We review the case of a 77-year-old man with invasive aspergillosis of the sternum and left costal cartilage 23 years after undergoing cardiac surgery. The patient promptly underwent surgical irrigation and debridement, followed by antifungal therapy. Clinical suspicion of sternal fungal infection should be high in patients with mediastinitis with a history of cardiac surgery. Treatment should be prompt.