Postpartum Iliopsoas Pyomyositis Due to Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

In Brief BACKGROUND: Community-acquired, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are on the rise among patients without risk factors for resistant microorganisms. A new, serious community-acquired MRSA manifestation, postpartum iliopsoas pyomyositis is described. CASE: A 24-year-old Hispanic female presented with back pain 9 days after a normal vaginal delivery. Magnetic resonance imaging showed extensive ill-defined edema of the left iliopsoas. Blood cultures yielded community-acquired MRSA. The patient received intravenous vancomycin for 6 days, followed by intravenous, then oral, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. She was discharged on day 8 and made a full recovery. CONCLUSION: Iliopsoas pyomyositis is a new manifestation of community-acquired MRSA in the obstetric population that may masquerade as benign musculoskeletal back pain. Obstetricians must be alert to the range of presentations of this emerging pathogen. Postpartum iliopsoas pyomyositis is a new, difficult to diagnose, and serious manifestation of the emerging pathogen, community-acquired, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.