Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Mediastinitis diagnostic criteria
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The diagnosis of mediastinitis is based on the CDC criteria, which includes histopathologic evidence, imagining findings, and other positive findings.
Diagnostic Criteria
Diagnostic Criteria
The diagnosis of mediastinitis is based on the CDC criteria, which include:[1]
- 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 recognized cause:
- Fever : (>38° C), chest pain, or sternal instability AND at least one of the following:
- purulent discharge from mediastinal area
- mediastinal widening on imaging test
- Patient <1 year of age has at least one of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause:
- Fever (>38°C), hypothermia (<36.0°C), apnea, bradycardia, or sternal instability AND at least one of the following:
- purulent discharge from mediastinal area
- mediastinal widening on imaging test
References
References
- ↑ CDC/NHSN Surveillance Definitions for Specific Types of Infections. CDC (2015). http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/PDFs/pscManual/17pscNosInfDef_current.pdf Accessed on September 21, 2015
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Anthony Gallo, B.S. [2]