Mucormycosis of a median sternotomy wound

Mucormycosis is an unusual complication of cardiothoracic surgery. The fungi may infect the sternotomy wound causing a progressive gangrene or seed the implanted prosthetic valve or graft resulting in endocarditis or graft failure. There have been six previous reports of mucormycosis following cardiothoracic surgical procedures. Four cases involved prosthetic devices, the remaining two are examples of sternal wound mucormycosis acquired from the use of contaminated elasticized bandages. The first case of sternal wound mucormycosis not associated with elasticized bandages is reported here. The infection occurred in a diabetic patient who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery and mitral valve replacement. The patient received corticosteroids and broad-spectrum antibiotics at the time of and after operation. The patient developed invasive sternal mucormycosis and died on day 10 after surgery, despite aggressive surgical débridement and amphotericin B therapy. No elasticized bandages were used and the source of the infection was not identified. Previous cases of mucormycosis in cardiothoracic surgery are reviewed and the specific clinical setting in which this fungal disease should be suspected defined.