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


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
The mainstays of descending necrotizing mediastinitis management are early diagnosis, aggressive surgical debridement and drainage, and appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Department of General Surgery, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21215, USA. hpark@lifebridgehealth.org
Habeeba
H
Park
Natelege
N
Hickman
Florence
F
Freund
Lynne A
LA
Skaryak
Rhonda
R
Fishel
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000150:complications*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D056346:Sternotomy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents