A 65 year old male, diabetic for 10 years and hypertensive for 15 years, taking sulfonylureas was admitted to the ER with a painful swelling right thigh for the last 3 days. He elaborated that he was trying to kick start his bike when he felt excruciating pain in the right thigh. He was unable to bear weight on that leg after that.
Examination:
On examination, he had a 5X5cm red swollen swelling invloving the anteromedial aspect of right thigh, located near the inguinal region. On palpation, it was hot, red, tender and no movements were possible at the hip joint due to pain.
He had no history of ischemic heart disease or a cerebrovascular accident. The fundi showed a normal fundus, with no sensory impairment in the hands and feet. His HbA1c was 7.2%. He had a history of nephrotic proteinuria, which responded to steroids. He was still on 30mg prednisolone.
Questions:
- Give three differential diagnosis.
- Name three first-line investigations.
- Supposing the tender swelling as an abcess, name the likely organism and the empirical antibiotic.
- Do the steroids need to be stopped to control the infection?
The CT scan showed a pus-filled area in the planes of adductor magnus muscle. The culture grew S. aureus.
The patient didnt respond to 5 days of ceftriaxone and amikacin, and was operated upon.