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Iatrogenic psoas abscess. Case report

I T Bernstein1, B J Hansen

  • 1Department of Urology, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Insights

A rare case of iatrogenic pneumococcus psoas abscess, likely caused by repeated local anesthetic injections for back pain, is presented. This highlights a potential complication of common pain management techniques.

Area of Science:

  • Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Anesthesiology

Background:

  • Psoas abscesses are uncommon infections, typically originating from spinal or hematogenous sources.
  • Iatrogenic causes are rare but increasingly recognized, particularly in the context of invasive procedures.

Observation:

  • This report details a unique case of a psoas abscess caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Findings:

  • The patient's abscess was linked to repeated local anesthetic blockades administered for chronic lumbago.
  • The likely mechanism involved direct inoculation of bacteria into the lumbogluteal structures during the blockade procedures.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of sterile techniques during local anesthetic administration to prevent infectious complications.
  • Awareness of this potential iatrogenic etiology is crucial for clinicians managing patients with back pain and considering invasive procedures.

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