Retroperitoneal Resistant Staph Infections Described

Skin infection believed to be portal of entry for bacteria

THURSDAY, Jan. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Retroperitoneal infections caused by community-associated, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) appear to have a favorable prognosis when diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion with antibiotics and appropriate drainage, according to an article published in the January issue of the Journal of Urology.

Diego A. Abreu, of the Hospital de Clinicas in Montevideo, Uruguay, and colleagues describe the clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes in 13 patients with retroperitoneal CA-MRSA infections.

All 13 patients (mean age 32 years) presented with back pain and fever, and all had laboratory findings of anemia and low serum prothrombin. Infected skin lesions were believed to be the portal of entry for the bacteria, with a mean interval of 48 days between skin infection and onset of lumbar pain. Specific antibiotics were administered as soon as culture results were available, and all patients underwent open or percutaneous drainage. One patient required nephrectomy. No patients died.

"We believe that the clinical picture of a patient with fever and lumbar pain, and a history of skin infection, anemia and hypoprothrombinemia, and a retroperitoneal collection in the perinephric space shown on imaging should indicate with a high level of suspicion the diagnosis of a retroperitoneal abscess caused by CA-MRSA," the authors write.

One study author reports a financial relationship with Novartis and AstraZeneca.

Abstract
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