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Mycoplasma hominis deep wound infection after neuromuscular scoliosis surgery: the use of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

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Abstract

Mycoplasma hominis is a commensal of the genitourinary tract. It mostly causes infections to associated structures of this system; however, occasionally it is a pathogen in nongenitourinary tract infections. Since, M. hominis strains require special growth conditions and cannot be Gram stained, they may be missed or delay diagnosis. This report describes a deep wound infection caused by M. hominis after neuromuscular scoliosis surgery; M. hominis was recovered by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An awareness of the role of M. hominis as an extragenital pathogen in musculoskeletal infections, especially in neuromuscular scoliosis, being a high-risk group for postoperative wound infection, it is necessary to identify this pathogen. Real-time PCR for postoperative deep wound infection, in patients with a history of genitourinary infections, decreases the delay in diagnosis and treatment. In these cases rapid real-time PCR on deep cultures should be considered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, P.O. Box 7057, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Matthijs R. Krijnen, Paul I. J. M. Wuisman & Barend J. Van Royen

  2. Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Thecla Hekker & Johan Algra

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  1. Matthijs R. Krijnen
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  2. Thecla Hekker
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  3. Johan Algra
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  4. Paul I. J. M. Wuisman
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  5. Barend J. Van Royen
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Correspondence to Barend J. Van Royen.

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Krijnen, M.R., Hekker, T., Algra, J. et al. Mycoplasma hominis deep wound infection after neuromuscular scoliosis surgery: the use of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Eur Spine J 15 (Suppl 5), 599–603 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-005-0055-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-005-0055-y

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