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BACKGROUND: Candida sternal wound infections (SWIs) following cardiac surgery are rare but are associated with a high mortality rate. Guidelines on this topic either propose no suggestions for management or offer recommendations based on a small number of reports. METHODS: This paper presents a case of a Candida SWI and its successful treatment with debridement using a burr, negative pressure vacuum therapy (NPVT) and dermal grafting. To investigate different methods of treating Candida SWIs following cardiac surgery, a review was completed using the MEDLINE database. Reports without English abstracts and without defined outcomes of therapy for individual patients were excluded. RESULTS: Seventy-seven cases of Candida SWIs following cardiac surgery were identified in 20 articles published since 1999, including our case. Treatment strategies are identified: omentum flap; muscle flap; debridement and secondary wound healing with or without NPVT; debridement and primary closure; incision and drainage; only medical therapy. Patients documented in the articles were classified based on the following outcomes: cured (n = 41 patients [including the present case]), relapse infection (n = 25 patients) and death (n = 11 patients). The various methods used to treat patients were analysed. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed closure reoperation with surgical debridement and NPVT have favourable outcomes. In the presence of widespread osteomyelitis, the use of omental flaps is advocated. Treatment with muscle flaps has a high rate of relapse. Debridement and secondary healing or conservative management with antifungals alone can be considered in the treatment of relapsing infection.