Bacterial Myositis

Pyomyositis and Tropical pyomyositis:

Features:

  • Very debilitated patients in ICU or tropical form
  • Acute, spontaneous i.e. non-traumatic suppurative infection, abscess formation
Gas gangrene, Clostridium perfringens

Diagnosis:

  • Traumatic or surgical. Also spontaneous gas gangrene Clostridium septicum in colon cancer patients.
  • Gram stain of bullae fluid: gram positive rods
  • Tissue biopsy may be necesary to confirm the diagnosis

Investigations to consider:

Blood tests:

  • ABG: metabolic acidosis
  • FBC: anemia, hemolysis, thrombocytopenia
  • Basic metabolic panel: hyperkalemia.
  • LFTs: hyperbilirubinemia. Raised enzymes
  • Coagulation: abnormal.
  • Blood cultures

Myoglobinuria

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