A 24-year-old man with cough, rhabdomyolysis, and pneumomediastinum.
BACKGROUND
Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) frequently causes severe necrotizing pneumonia in young patients.


METHODS
We present the case of a 24-year-old male, who was brought to the emergency department with persistent fevers, confusion, and severe cough. He was found to have necrotizing pneumonia, pneumomediastinum, and rhabdomyolysis with renal failure. Cultures were positive for influenza A and CA-MRSA. After a prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay, he made a complete recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
Community-acquired MRSA pneumonia is a growing health threat that typically presents in young adults after, or in conjunction with, a flu-like illness. It is characterized by a rapidly progressive deteriorating clinical course.
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, UMass-Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. andres.sosa@umassmemorial.org
Andrés F
AF
Sosa
Gisela
G
Banauch
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D003371:Cough / Q000150:complications*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000150:complications*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications*; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000150:complications*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents