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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis
Published on: August 12, 2020
Primary pelvic pyomyositis in a neonate
M Falesi1, B M Regazzoni, M Wyttenbach
1Division of Pediatrics, Ospedale, Mendrisio and Bellinzona, and University of Bern, Switzerland.
Insights
Pyomyositis, a bacterial skeletal muscle infection, is increasingly seen in temperate climates. This case highlights staphylococcal pelvic pyomyositis diagnosed via MRI in a Swiss infant, initially suspected as septic hip osteoarthritis.
Area of Science:
- Medical microbiology
- Infectious diseases
- Musculoskeletal imaging
Background:
- Primary pyomyositis is a bacterial skeletal muscle infection without a clear local cause.
- Classically a tropical disease, pyomyositis is increasingly reported in temperate regions.
- Demographics vary: tropical pyomyositis affects children and young/middle-aged adults, while temperate cases predominantly occur in adults.
Observation:
- A Swiss term-born infant presented with symptoms initially suggestive of septic hip osteoarthritis.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was utilized for diagnostic evaluation.
- The imaging revealed staphylococcal pelvic pyomyositis.
Findings:
- The diagnosis of staphylococcal pelvic pyomyositis was confirmed in the infant.
- This case demonstrates pyomyositis occurring in an unexpected demographic and geographic location.
- MRI proved crucial in differentiating pyomyositis from other conditions like septic hip osteoarthritis.
Implications:
- Highlights the expanding geographic range of pyomyositis.
- Emphasizes the importance of considering pyomyositis in infants presenting with hip pain, even in non-tropical regions.
- Underscores the diagnostic utility of advanced imaging like MRI in pediatric musculoskeletal infections.
Abstract:
Primary pyomyositis is a bacterial infection occurring in skeletal muscle with no obvious local or adjacent cause. It is classically an infection of the tropics, although it is reported in temperate climates with increasing frequency. Tropical pyomyositis occurs predominantly in children aged between 2 and 5 and in adults aged between 20 and 45 years, whereas most temperate pyomyositis cases occur in adults. Using a magnetic resonance imaging scan, we made the diagnosis of staphylococcal pelvic pyomyositis in a Swiss term-born infant with an initial working diagnosis of septic hip osteoarthritis.
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