Ocular Infection Preceding Major Epidural Abscess

Staphylococcal bacteremia is an important clinical entity. A 74-year-old lady presented with an isolated staphylococcal ocular infection; this was treated with a short course of antibiotics, a prolonged course of steroids, and discharge from hospital with outpatient clinic followup. She represented...

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Main Authors: Liam Dunbar, Ryan Johnstone
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Orthopedics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/245013
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author Liam Dunbar
Ryan Johnstone
author_facet Liam Dunbar
Ryan Johnstone
author_sort Liam Dunbar
collection DOAJ
description Staphylococcal bacteremia is an important clinical entity. A 74-year-old lady presented with an isolated staphylococcal ocular infection; this was treated with a short course of antibiotics, a prolonged course of steroids, and discharge from hospital with outpatient clinic followup. She represented three weeks later to the emergency department with back pain, raised inflammatory markers, and positive blood cultures. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), an extensive epidural collection was seen. This was surgically decompressed, and she was treated with appropriate intravenous antibiotics. Despite a complicated postoperative course, she made an excellent recovery. This case reviews the important clinical and radiological features of the presentation of a major epidural abscess and it also suggests a potentially unusual primary source. The clinician is reminded to always have a high index of suspicion regarding staphylococcal bacteremia and the potential for seeding to the epidural space.
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series Case Reports in Orthopedics
spelling doaj-art-e6223359e6f943039386c6ba98c324162025-02-03T05:45:59ZengWileyCase Reports in Orthopedics2090-67492090-67572014-01-01201410.1155/2014/245013245013Ocular Infection Preceding Major Epidural AbscessLiam Dunbar0Ryan Johnstone1Hutt Valley DHB, Private Bag 31907, Wellington, Lower Hutt 5040, New ZealandHutt Valley DHB, Private Bag 31907, Wellington, Lower Hutt 5040, New ZealandStaphylococcal bacteremia is an important clinical entity. A 74-year-old lady presented with an isolated staphylococcal ocular infection; this was treated with a short course of antibiotics, a prolonged course of steroids, and discharge from hospital with outpatient clinic followup. She represented three weeks later to the emergency department with back pain, raised inflammatory markers, and positive blood cultures. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), an extensive epidural collection was seen. This was surgically decompressed, and she was treated with appropriate intravenous antibiotics. Despite a complicated postoperative course, she made an excellent recovery. This case reviews the important clinical and radiological features of the presentation of a major epidural abscess and it also suggests a potentially unusual primary source. The clinician is reminded to always have a high index of suspicion regarding staphylococcal bacteremia and the potential for seeding to the epidural space.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/245013
spellingShingle Liam Dunbar
Ryan Johnstone
Ocular Infection Preceding Major Epidural Abscess
Case Reports in Orthopedics
title Ocular Infection Preceding Major Epidural Abscess
title_full Ocular Infection Preceding Major Epidural Abscess
title_fullStr Ocular Infection Preceding Major Epidural Abscess
title_full_unstemmed Ocular Infection Preceding Major Epidural Abscess
title_short Ocular Infection Preceding Major Epidural Abscess
title_sort ocular infection preceding major epidural abscess
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/245013
work_keys_str_mv AT liamdunbar ocularinfectionprecedingmajorepiduralabscess
AT ryanjohnstone ocularinfectionprecedingmajorepiduralabscess