title: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus retropharyngeal abscess complicated by a cervical spinal subdural empyema.
abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cervical spinal subdural empyema as a result of a retropharyngeal abscess has not been reported previously. We present a 65-year-old male intravenous drug user who developed spinal subdural empyema after an operation for a retropharyngeal abscess. Although imaging diagnosis and follow-up surgery were performed quickly, the neurological outcome was poor. We review the literature on retropharyngeal abscess with intraspinal infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shiuan-Horng
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chern
authors.forename: Chih-Peng
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Ru-Lan
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Jiun-Ling
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D013354:Empyema, Subdural / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000601:surgery; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed