meropenem and Pain

A 57-year-old woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) receiving mechanical ventilation developed intractable right temporal headache. She was diagnosed with brain abscess secondary to chronic suppurative otitis media. In this case, the otitis media was caused by nasopharyngeal reflux associated with eustachian tube muscle weakness and a supine position. In addition, ALS patients under mechanical ventilation have a limited ability to convey their pain. Their complaints are often overlooked because many physicians do not know that pain is common in ALS. Physicians should recognize brain abscess as a severe complication of ALS and listen to the complaints of these patients.

Topics: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Brain Abscess; Female; Humans; Meropenem; Middle Aged; Pain; Respiration, Artificial; Treatment Outcome

The authors report a rare case of piriformis pyomyositis, in a teenage rugby player, who was initially feverish and presented to us with low back pain, sciatica and inability to mobilise due to pain. Subsequent imaging investigations (MRI scan) revealed abscess formation in the piriformis muscle with compression effect on the ipsilateral sciatic nerve. A course of intravenous antibiotic therapy followed by oral antibiotics fully resolved his symptoms and returned inflammatory markers back to normal.

Topics: Abscess; Adolescent; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Floxacillin; Football; Humans; Low Back Pain; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Meropenem; Pain; Piriformis Muscle Syndrome; Pyomyositis; Rifampin; Sciatica; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Thienamycins; Vancomycin

Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Escherichia coli; Fasciitis, Necrotizing; Fever; Humans; Male; Meropenem; Pain; Penicillins; Thienamycins