Genomic Analysis of Cardiac Surgery-Associated Mycobacterium chimaera Infections, United States

Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 Mar;25(3):559-563. doi: 10.3201/eid2503.181282.

Abstract

A surgical heater-cooler unit has been implicated as the source for Mycobacterium chimaera infections among cardiac surgery patients in several countries. We isolated M. chimaera from heater-cooler units and patient infections in the United States. Whole-genome sequencing corroborated a risk for these units acting as a reservoir for this pathogen.

Keywords: Mycobacterium chimaera; United States; bacteria; cardiac surgery; genomics; heater–cooler unit; nontuberculous mycobacteria; nosocomial infection; outbreak; tuberculosis and other mycobacteria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / adverse effects*
  • Genome, Bacterial*
  • Genomics* / methods
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Mycobacterium / classification
  • Mycobacterium / genetics*
  • Mycobacterium Infections / epidemiology*
  • Mycobacterium Infections / etiology*
  • Mycobacterium Infections / microbiology
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Surgical Wound Infection / epidemiology*
  • United States / epidemiology