Mycobacterium chimaera chorioretinitis as a biomarker of systemic disease activity following nosocomial acquisition during cardiopulmonary bypass

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To understand the role of ophthalmoscopic examination (dilated retina examination and widefield fundus photography) in the diagnosis and management of nosocomial acquisition of Mycobacterium chimaera following open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass utilizing a heater-cooler unit, an entity that is associated with >50% mortality during the worldwide outbreak that has occurred since 2013.

Methods: Case report with review of previous cases.

Results: Signature Mycobacterium chimaera chorioretinal lesions can be used as a diagnostic sign and a biomarker for assessment of treatment efficacy.

Conclusions: Ophthalmologic examination can play a key role in diagnosis and management of systemic Mycobacterium chimaera following cardiopulmonary bypass; such examinations may yield earlier diagnosis, diminishing mortality rates.

KEYWORDS:

• Mycobacterium chimaera
• chorioretinitis
• non-tuberculous mycobacteria
• sepsis
• cardiopulmonary bypass
• heater-cooler unit

Declaration of interest

The contents of the paper and the opinions expressed within are those of the authors, and it was the decision of the authors to submit the manuscript for publication.

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.