Background: Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcusaureus (CA-MRSA) frequently causes severe necrotizing pneumonia in young patients. Case: We present the case of a 24-year-old male, who was brought to the emergency department with persistent fevers, confusion, and severe cough. He was found to have necrotizing pneumonia, pneumomediastinum, and rhabdomyolysis with renal failure. Cultures were positive for influenza A and CA-MRSA. After a prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay, he made a complete recovery. Conclusion: Community-acquired MRSA pneumonia is a growing health threat that typically presents in young adults after, or in conjunction with, a flu-like illness. It is characterized by a rapidly progressive deteriorating clinical course.
GilletYIssartelBVanhemsP. Association between Staphylococcus aureus strains carrying gene for Panton-Valentine leukocidin and highly lethal necrotizing pneumonia in young immunocompetent patients. Lancet. 2002;359 (9308):753–759.
RoshanMVenkateshaBMBhatEKNayakUAPneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium in staphylococcal bronchopneumonia. J Assoc Physicians India. 2003;51:884.
5.
KallenAJHagemanJGorwitzRBeekmannSEPolgreenPMCharacteristics of Staphylococcus aureus community-acquired pneumonia during the 2006–2007 influenza season. Clin Infect Dis. 2007;
45
(12):1655.
6.
GilletYVanhemsPLinaG. Factors predicting mortality in necrotizing community acquired pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus aureus containing Panton-Valentine leukocidin.
Clin Infect Dis. 2007;
45
(3):315–321.
7.
de BentzmannSTristanAEtienneJBrousseNVandeneschFLinaGStaphylococcus aureus isolates associated with necrotizing pneumonia bind to basement membrane type I and IV collagens and laminin.
J Infect Dis. 2004;
190
(8):1506–1515.
8.
FinnieIAJackCIMcKayJSPneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema complicating staphylococcal pneumonia.
Ulster Med J. 1995;
64
(1):105–107.
