Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia With Multiple Lung Abscesses: A Case Without an Apparent Source of Septic Emboli

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium implicated in several infections. While the methicillin resistant strains are usually a greater cause for concern, it is imperative to recognize that methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) is capable of causing a wide variety of complications as well. When disseminated MSSA is encountered, workup usually reveals a source for the septic emboli, be it infective endocarditis or septic thrombophlebitis. Here, we present a young gentleman who presented with a facial wound that grew MSSA, who, despite adequate source control, developed disseminated MSSA bacteremia with multiple lung abscesses. Most notably, there were no findings or septic thrombophlebitis, and both transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) revealed no cardiac vegetation.