Primary sternal osteomyelitis and septicaemia due to Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Primary sternal osteomyelitis is rare in these recent decades. Only scattered cases have been reported, most of them in intravenous drug users. We report the case of an 88-y-old woman who presented a primary sternal infection due to Staphylococcus aureus associated with secondary septicaemia. The only predisposing factor was radiotherapy for a malignant tumour of the right mammary gland 20 y ago. Diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic management are briefly discussed.