[Pyomyositis: report of seventeen cases].
BACKGROUND
Pyomyositis is a bacterial infection of skeletal muscle. Although more commonly seen in the tropics, it is increasingly recognized in temperate regions. The age distribution for patients with so called "tropical" or "temperate" pyomyositis differs. Most cases of tropical pyomyositis are seen in otherwise healthy patients and mainly in children, while the majority of cases of temperate pyomyositis occur in inmunocompromised adults.


OBJECTIVE
To report a series of patients with pyomyositis.


METHODS
Retrospective review of clinical records of patients admitted to our hospital with pyomyositis during the period 1996-2001.


RESULTS
Seventeen patients were identified, aged from 5 to 86 years old, nine (53%) males. Staphylococcus aureus (13 cases, 76%) was the most common infecting organism. Eleven patients (65%) had a history of previous trauma. All patients were immunocompetent. Six patients underwent surgical drainage. Six patients (35%) presented complications and of those, one died.


CONCLUSIONS
All patients of this series were immunocompetent. Pyomyositis is a serious and life threatening disease but curable. An early treatment is the key to a better prognosis.
Villamil-Cajoto
Iago
I
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15706 A Coruna, España. iago.villamil.cajoto@sergas.es
Maceiras-Pan
Francisco
F
Villacián-Vicedo
María José
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052880:Pyomyositis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents