title: Transverse myelitis due to Staphylococcus aureus may occur without contiguous spread.
abstract: METHODS
  A case report of staphylococcal transverse myelitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To illustrate the clinical presentation of acute transverse myelitis due to Staphylococcus aureus, without a contiguous source of infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  National Neuroscience Institute.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 79-year-old female was diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis. Clues to an infectious etiology included fever, raised inflammatory markers and cerebrospinal fluid neutrophilic pleocytosis. Staphylococcal etiology was established based on cerebrospinal fluid and blood cultures. Despite extensive investigations, no contiguous or systemic source of infection could be identified. She was treated with appropriate antibiotics; however, neurological recovery was poor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bacterial myelitis may occur in isolation and the diagnosis should not be discounted when evaluation shows an absence of a contiguous or systemic source of infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Changi General Hospital, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents