Persistent wound infection after Lichtenstein repair of an inguinal herniacaused by a small-colony variant of Staphylococcus aureus

We report a case of chronic wound infection (abscess, fistula) after a Lich tenstein repair of inguinal hernia. After surgical treatment (mesh explanta tion), a small-colony variant (SCV) of Staphylococcus aureus was cultured m icrobiologically. SCV represent subpopulations of Staphylococcus aureus whi ch are associated with chronic infections and which respond poorly to usual treatment regimes. In this case surgery and specific antibiotic treatment with flucloxacillin and rifampicin were successful.