NEW DEVELOPMENT! – Article published in medical journal reveals investigation of M. chimaera infections at Kansas Hospital. Click here for article: Mycobacterium chimaera infections among cardiothoracic surgery patients associated with heater-cooler devices—Kansas and California, 2019
Since 2012, a bacterial infection called Mycobacterium chimaera (M. chimaera) has been seen all over the world. Most of these infections have been associated with heater-cooler systems used during open-heart surgery. Open heart surgeries include heart valve replacements, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), and heart transplants. If you have had open-heart surgery since 2012, you may have been exposed to M. chimaera.
Symptoms of an M. chimaera Infection
If you are experiencing the following symptoms and have had open-heart surgery you could have a serious bacterial infection:
- Night sweats
- Muscle aches
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Unexplained fever
- Sternal incision with redness, pain, swelling, muscle soreness, drainage, blisters, or areas that are open and will not heal
- Hepatitis
- Kidney problems
- Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
- Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
- Pancytopenia or low white count, low platelets, and/or anemia
- Chorioretinitis (inflammation of the eye)
If you have any of the symptoms listed above or you have had open-heart surgery since 2012, call us today at 816-474-0004.
