A Cluster of Rhodococcus (Gordona) Bronchialis Sternal-Wound Infections after Coronary-Artery Bypass Surgery

Hervé Richet, Philip C. Craven, June M. Brown, Brent A. Lasker, Candice D. Cox, Michael M. McNeil, Alan D. Tice, William R. Jarvis, Ofelia C. Tablan

New England Journal of Medicine · 1991 · 123 citations · 29 references

DOIFull text

Open access

Concepts

Abstract

RHODOCOCCUS species are gram-positive bacillary aerobic actinomycetes found in soil, sewage, fresh water, and feces of horses, sheep, and cattle.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Only one report of Rhodococcus (Gordona) bronchialis infection in humans has been published; the organism was isolated from the sputum of patients with cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis or bronchiectasis.24 We describe a hospital outbreak of surgical-wound infections caused by a single genetically distinct strain of R. bronchialis that was traced to an operating-room nurse. Methods Definition and Ascertainment of Cases A case was defined as a sternal-wound infection that was culture-positive for R. bronchialis in a patient who had undergone open-heart . . .

References

29