Division CVS-MED: Mediastinitis

Mediastinitis must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Patient has organisms cultured from mediastinal tissue or fluid obtained during a surgical operation or needle aspiration

• Patient has evidence of mediastinitis seen during a surgical operation or histopathologic examination

• Patient has at least one of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognised cause: fever (> 38 °C), chest pain, or sternal instability

AND at least one of the following:

• purulent discharge from mediastinal area

• organisms cultured from blood or discharge from mediastinal area

• mediastinal widening on x-ray