Multiple Cold Abscesses of a Chest Wall with Ribs Destruction in a Hemodialysis Patient

Abstract

Cold abscess of the chest wall is an uncommon disease that is mainly caused by tuberculous infection. Staphylococcal cold abscesses of the chest wall are extremely rare and usually clinically occult, frequently leading to a delay in diagnosis and consequently severe infectious complications. We report an 88-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease, who presented with an exit site infection of a cuffed tunneled dialysis catheter caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Despite the removal of the catheter and administration of antibiotics, she developed refractory MRSA bacteremia. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed septic thrombophlebitis with metastatic cold abscesses of the chest wall and ribs destruction. Although CT-guided drainage and vancomycin therapy eliminated MRSA bacteremia, the chest wall abscesses did not resolve. Patients fitted with a central venous dialysis catheter are at risk of septic thrombophlebitis with metastatic cold abscesses of the chest wall that are resistant to antibiotic therapy. Early identification is based on serial blood cultures and prompt CT scans. Surgical management coupled with antibiotic therapy can eradicate the source of infection and improve patients’ outcomes.