A late sternal wound infection caused by hematogenous spread of bacteria.
A 56-year-old man presented with a sternotomy wound infection 6 months after coronary artery bypass grafting. The organism responsible was group B beta-hemolytic Streptococcus. This organism was simultaneously cultured from an infected diabetic ulcer on the patient's foot as well as from a total knee prosthesis. The Streptococcus apparently spread hematogenously to the sternum, an extremely rare cause of sternotomy wound infection.
D016470:Bacteremia; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors