Polymicrobial septicemia associated with rhabdomyolysis, myoglobinuria, and acute renal failure

Myoglobinuria and renal failure resulting from bacterial infection have only rarely been reported. To our knowledge, we describe the first reported case of polymicrobial septicemia resulting in rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuric renal failure. Renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria has an excellent prognosis; in our patient, recovery was complete. The frequency of rhabdomyolysis, myoglobinuria, and renal failure in septicemia is unknown and can only be determined by an increased awareness of this potential complication of septicemia.