title: Pyomyositis mimicking leptospirosis: two cases in a Brazilian tertiary care hospital in a non-tropical area.
abstract: Pyomyositis is a subacute, deep suppurative bacterial infection of skeletal muscle not arising from contiguous infection. It is presumably haematogenous in origin, and characterized by muscle pain and swelling. We report on two patients who presented with pyomyositis in a tertiary care hospital in temperate region located in southern Brazil with a clinical presentation, which was initially suggestive of leptospirosis. This report discusses the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of pyomyositis. Physicians living in non-tropical areas should note that pyomyositis might occur in those areas, and its initial clinical presentation may be similar to leptospirosis.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos 2350, Porto Alegre, RS 90035-002, Brazil.
authors.forename: Letícia Perondi
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Luz
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dora
authors.forename: Luciano Zubaran
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Goldani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052880:Pyomyositis / Q000175:diagnosis*