eMedicine Specialties > Neurology > Neurological Infections

Infectious Myositis: Follow-up

Author: Mohammed J Zafar, MD, FAAN, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, Michigan State University; NeuroImager, Premier Medical Care, PC, Premier Radiology, Kalamazoo Neurologic Institute
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Aug 12, 2009

Follow-up

Further Inpatient Care

Pyomyositis: Hospitalize for systemic antibiotics.

Deterrence/Prevention

  • Prevent trichinosis and cysticercosis by adequately processing pork.
  • When traveling in endemic areas of Latin America, apply insect repellents such as N -diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) to avoid American trypanosomiasis. Pyrethrin insecticides also may be used to kill insect vectors. Using bed nets to keep away insects is advisable.

Complications

  • Influenza, echovirus, Legionella, and, rarely, coxsackievirus myositis can be complicated by rhabdomyolysis.
  • Pyomyositis: Life-threatening complications include sepsis and toxic shock syndrome.
  • Gas gangrene usually follows penetrating injuries complicated by clostridial pyomyositis.
  • Trichinosis
    • Heavy infestation may be fatal because of myocarditis and/or diaphragmatic involvement.
    • Myocarditis can lead to cerebral embolism.

Prognosis

  • Pyomyositis: Prompt administration of antibiotics can result in complete resolution.
  • Trichinosis: Most patients with myopathic involvement recover after several weeks. Infection may be fatal if severe and involving other organs systems (eg, cardiac, pulmonary, CNS).

Patient Education

  • Travelers visiting area of endemic trichinosis should be educated on the hazards of eating raw or undercooked pork.
  • Educate traveling diabetic patients concerning the need for prompt treatment of cutaneous infections and infected insect bites and to avoid strenuous activity.
  • The Myositis Association of America serves as a resource for patients and the medical community.
  • For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Bites and Stings Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article Ticks.
 


More on Infectious Myositis

Overview: Infectious Myositis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Infectious Myositis
Treatment & Medication: Infectious Myositis
Follow-up: Infectious Myositis
Multimedia: Infectious Myositis
References
[ CLOSE WINDOW ]

References

  1. O'Neill DS, Baquis G, Moral L. Infectious myositis. A tropical disease steals out of its zone. Postgrad Med. Aug 1996;100(2):193-4, 199-200. [Medline].

  2. Crum NF. Bacterial pyomyositis in the United States. Am J Med. Sep 15 2004;117(6):420-8. [Medline].

  3. Reimers CD, de Koning J, Neubert U, et al. Borrelia burgdorferi myositis: report of eight patients. J Neurol. May 1993;240(5):278-83. [Medline].

  4. Costa RM, Dumitrascu OM, Gordon LK. Orbital myositis: diagnosis and management. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. Jul 2009;9(4):316-23. [Medline].

  5. Wong SL, Anthony EY, Shetty AK. Pyomyositis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Am J Emerg Med. Jun 2009;27(5):633.e1-3. [Medline].

  6. Trusen A, Beissert M, Schultz G, et al. Ultrasound and MRI features of pyomyositis in children. Eur Radiol. May 2003;13(5):1050-5. [Medline].

  7. Simpson DM, Citak KA, Godfrey E, et al. Myopathies associated with human immunodeficiency virus and zidovudine: can their effects be distinguished?. Neurology. May 1993;43(5):971-6. [Medline].

  8. Belman AL, Preston T, Milazzo M. Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In: Goetz, Pappert, eds. Textbook of Clinical Neurology;1999:898-900. [Medline].

  9. Hays AP, Gamboa ET. Acute viral myositis. In: Engel, Franzini-Armstrong, eds. Myology: Basic and Clinical. 2nd ed. 1994:1399-409.

  10. Heffner RH Jr, Schochet SS Jr. Skeletal muscle. In: Anderson's Pathology. Vol 2. 10th ed. 1996:2666-7.

  11. Kim JY, Park YH, Choi KH, et al. MRI of tuberculous pyomyositis. J Comput Assist Tomogr. May-Jun 1999;23(3):454-7. [Medline].

  12. Patel SR, Olenginski TP, Perruquet JL, Harrington TM. Pyomyositis: clinical features and predisposing conditions. J Rheumatol. Sep 1997;24(9):1734-8. [Medline].

  13. Tulio AM et al. Strickland TG. American trypanosomiasis. 7th ed. Hunter's Tropical Medicine; 1991:628-37.

[ CLOSE WINDOW ]

Further Reading

[ CLOSE WINDOW ]

Keywords

infectious myopathy, infectious polymyositis, pyomyositis, HIV infection

[ CLOSE WINDOW ]

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Mohammed J Zafar, MD, FAAN, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, Michigan State University; NeuroImager, Premier Medical Care, PC, Premier Radiology, Kalamazoo Neurologic Institute
Mohammed J Zafar, MD, FAAN is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Medical Association, American Society of Neuroimaging, and Michigan State Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Roberta J Seidman, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Pathology, Stony Brook University; Director of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University Medical Center
Roberta J Seidman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neuropathologists, New York Association of Neuropathologists (The Neuroplex), and Suffolk County Society of Pathologists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

Florian P Thomas, MD, MA, PhD, Drmed, Director, Spinal Cord Injury Unit, St Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Director, National MS Society Multiple Sclerosis Center; Professor, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Associate Professor, Institute for Molecular Virology, and Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, St Louis University
Florian P Thomas, MD, MA, PhD, Drmed is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Paraplegia Society, and National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Matthew J Baker, MD, Consulting Staff, Collier Neurologic Specialists, Naples Community Hospital
Matthew J Baker, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Nicholas Y Lorenzo, MD, Chief Editor, eMedicine Neurology; Consulting Staff, Neurology Specialists and Consultants
Nicholas Y Lorenzo, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Neurology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

RELATED EMEDICINE ARTICLES
Patient Education
 
 
HONcode

We subscribe to the
HONcode principles of the
Health On the Net Foundation

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright© 1994- by Medscape.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.