title: Nontraumatic acute anterior mediastinitis in two HIV-positive heroin addicts.
abstract: We present the cases of two young heroin addicts seropositive for HIV who had life-threatening spontaneous acute anterior mediastinitis due to Staphylococcus aureus. This was the consequence of the spreading to the mediastinum of an infection of the chest wall. Complete cure was achieved with antibiotics and surgical drainage. Spontaneous mediastinitis should arouse suspicion of the possibility of HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Service de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Louis Mourier, Colombes, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dreyfuss
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Djedaini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bidault-Lapomme
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coste
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging