Three cases of staphylococcal pyomyositis in adolescence, including one patient with neurologic compromise

Pyomyositis is rarely reported in the United States and is not easily recognized. In a 4-year period, we treated three adolescents from our vicinity with muscle infection resulting from Staphylococcus aureus. One was an insulin-dependent diabetic patient. Two patients had deep infections about their pelvis, one of which resulted in acute loss of bowel and bladder function. In all three cases, the patient did not recover until the abscess was operatively drained. Diagnosis was delayed because of lack of awareness of the condition, the deep muscles involved, and clinical presentation before formation of a localized abscess. Indium scan may be a very useful initial diagnostic test.