STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS CELLULITIS - AN UNUSUAL PRESENTATION

Staphylococcus aureus has long been known as one of the most virulent microbes, with capabilities that make it threatening in both nosocomia l and community-acquired infections. It remains the most frequent caus e of skin-structure and traumatic infections in the community.(1) S. a ureus infections in the maxillofacial region are likely to be associat ed with a known portal of entry, but this is not always the case.(2) O nce invasion occurs, the organism may produce virulent enzymes includi ng coagulase, hyaluronidase, proteases, DNA-ase, hemolysins, and lysoz yme as well as exotoxins.(3) Markel et als point out that cellulitis a ssociated with coagulase-positive staphylococci will often resolve wit hout abscess formation. Hence, there is often no site from which to ob tain specimens, making this infection a diagnostic and therapeutic cha llenge. This report describes an infection in which the etiologic orga nism was identified as S. aureus. The source of the infection, however remained unclear. ,