A fatal case of MRSA septicaemia and gallbladder empyema

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a major problem worldwide and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is a particular issue in surgical patients especially vascular surgery involving prosthetic implants. We present an unusual case of MRSA gallbladder empyema and septicaemia in a previous vascular surgical patient. Teranishi et al reported a case of acute cholecystitis caused by MRSA in the Japanese literature but as far as we are aware this is the first case reported in the English literature.