Hematogenous staphylococcal pneumonia secondary to soft tissue infection

Staphylococcal pneumonia is rare, has a high mortality and morbidity rate, and occurs commonly during influenza epidemics (airborne) or during the course of right sided bacterial endocarditis in drug addicts (blood borne). In recent years, much emphasis has been given to the staphylococcal infections in intravenous drug abusers. This report describes ten patients with staphylococcal pneumonia resulting from soft tissue infection who were previously healthy and had no history of drug abuse. They were 12 to 45 years old. Eight were male patients. Soft tissue infection was community-acquired in nine and was most commonly located in the lower extremities. Three patients had diabetes. All presented with a clinical picture of acute pneumonia. Hemoptysis occurred in three. Chest roentgenogram showed multiple large or small round discrete densities in most of the patients. Lobar involvement was notably absent. Eight developed cavitary lesions in their lungs. The average length of hospital stay was 40 days. One patient died and six developed complications. Staphylococcal etiology should be suspected in patients with acute pneumonia who have soft tissue infection or have characteristic chest roentgenogram findings; antistaphylococcal agents should be included in the therapeutic regimens of such patients until the results of the cultures are known.