Mediastinitis

PATHOGENS

Acute:

• Staphylococcus aureus
• Streptococcal species
• Gram-negative bacteria (especially post-surgical)
• Oral flora, including anaerobes (if evolved from esophageal perforation or deep space cervical infections)
• Candida species (rare)

Chronic:

• Histoplasma capsulatum (most common)
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Coccidioides immitis
• Aspergillus
• Actinomyces
• Wucheria bancrofti
• This may also be due to noninfectious etiologies.
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • IgG-4 disease
  • ANCA-related vasculitis
  • Lymphoma-related
  • Radiation
  • Drug therapy (methysergide)
• Idiopathic: if etiology is undetermined.