title: Primary chest wall abscess caused by Escherichia coli costochondritis.
abstract: Chest wall abscess may occur as primary infection or secondary to open trauma or thoracic wall surgery. The authors describe an unusual case of Escherichia coli costochondritis occurring 2 months after a blunt chest wall trauma. Primary chest wall abscess due to E coli costochondritis has been previously reported only twice occurring after urinary tract infection. All other very few reports of E coli costochondritis have been reported only after thoracic surgical procedures. An English literature review of primary chest wall abscess showed that 4 pathogens are responsible for the majority of cases: Actinomyces, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Salmonella. C albicans costochondritis was most commonly reported among heroin addicts. The appearance of a growing chest wall mass should always prompt a search for an infectious cause, even with little or no systemic signs and symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department B, Ha'Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Waheeb
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sakran
authors.forename: Naiel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bisharat
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013991:Tietze's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology