rifampin and Pyomyositis

Primary pyomyositis is a rare bacterial infection of the skeletal muscle. Traditionally a tropical disease, it is increasingly described in westernised urban populations. The aetiology is due to transient bacteraemia in the presence of risk factors such as traumatised muscle, or immunocompromise. The condition presents in one of three stages, representing progression of disease severity. Intravenous antibiotic therapy is often sufficient for this disease at its early stage, but surgical drainage is necessary for advanced presentations. We report a severe case of stage 3 pyomyositis of the gluteus minimus, which led to Staphylococcus aureus sepsis, deranged liver function, acute kidney injury, autoanticoagulation and proximal femoral osteomyelitis in a healthy 64-year-old Caucasian man. This illustrates the potential severity of the disease, the life-threatening sequelae when diagnosis is delayed and the role of surgical drainage in averting the progression of systemic sepsis to end-organ dysfunction, disseminated intravascular coagulation and potentially death.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Buttocks; Delayed Diagnosis; Drainage; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal; Osteomyelitis; Pyomyositis; Rifampin; Sepsis; Staphylococcal Infections; Vancomycin

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