Investigation of microbial community associated with mediastinitis by 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing

Abstract

Here, we document the case of mediastinitis in an adult individual, developed upon contiguous spread of oesophageal infection. Our findings are noteworthy, because the presence of Prevotella oris , P. veroralis , Dialister pneumosintes , Klebsiella pneumoniae in tissue sample from mediastinum cannot be identified by standard culturing and Gram-staining. Importantly, however, 16S rDNA sequencing did lead to an unambiguous diagnosis and guided successful antimicrobial therapy.