Meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus costochondritis in a healthy man.
BACKGROUND
A 54-year-old previously healthy white man presented to hospital with fever, right parasternal pain and swelling over the right second and third costochondral joints. The symptoms had developed 1 week earlier.


METHODS
Physical examination, white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, blood and urine culture, plain radiography and CT of the chest, (99m)Tc bone scintigraphy, ultrasound-guided needle aspiration of soft tissue mass, Gram staining and culture of aspirated fluid.


METHODS
Meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus costochondritis.


RESULTS
CT revealed a 2 x 5 cm soft tissue mass at the posterior aspect of the right second and third costochondral joints. The fluid aspirated contained Gram-positive cocci, and culture revealed the presence of meticillin-sensitive S. aureus. The patient received a 6-week course of flucloxacillin (2 g by intravenous injection every 6 h for 2 weeks, then 1 g orally every 6 h for 4 weeks). He responded well to treatment, and was discharged from hospital.
Mohammad
Ausaf F
AF
Department of Rheumatology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. ausafmohammad@gmail.com
Ambrose
Nicky
N
Hamnvik
Ole-Petter R
OP
Kearns
Grainne
G
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005436:Floxacillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013991:Tietze's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005436:Floxacillin