Pyomyositis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Pyomyositis, a purulent infection of skeletal muscle, is usually caused by Staphyloeoccus aureus. Many cases of pyomyositis in human immunodeficiency virus (HN) seronegative patients have been reported in North America and ha ve been reviewed extensively, Moreover, pyomyositis has been reported in as sociation with HIV infection in patients with or without the acquired immun odeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We describe two patients with pyomyositis and HIV and review the available English language literature, Leukocytosis and bacteremia tend to occur less frequently in those with HIV infection and py omyositis, However, fever, S aureus infection, and bilateral involvement oc cur more frequently in HIV-positive patients. Antibiotic. therapy together with surgical drainage or aspiration is usually sufficient.