Fever of Unknown Origin From the Primary Care Perspective: A Case Report

A 60-year-old immunocompetent man presented to his primary care physician with 3 weeks of fever without an obvious source or risk factors. After multiple encounters, he was found to have a pyogenic liver abscess on computed tomography (CT). He improved with interventional radiology (IR) drainage and antibiotics. Primary care and outpatient providers should be prepared to initiate an appropriate workup for fever of unknown origin (FUO). Family medicine providers working in acute care settings such as urgent care and the emergency department similarly need a framework for FUO. Once common causes have been excluded, pyogenic liver abscess should be considered.