[Tropical pyomyositis. A report of 188 cases].

Objective: Tropical pyomyositis, a bacterial muscular infection, has been reported frequently from tropical and subtropical zones. However, there are only a few reports from Mexico.
Materials and Methods: We present a prospective study of tropical pyomyositis cases in three secondary- and tertiary-care hospitals in Veracruz, Mexico between August 1985 and December 2000.
Results: Tropical pyomyositis was more common in young adults, male-to-female ratio being 2.2:1. Principal features were muscle pains, fluctuanct muscular mass, and fever. Tropical pyomyositis was associated with recent muscular trauma and/or pyodermitis in 67% of cases. 60% of admissions presented invasive clinical stage of the disease, and fewer of 20% of cases presented multiple muscular involvement. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common etiologic agent. Most frequent complications were pleuropulmonaries. Only one patient, who had septicemia and multiple organ failure, died.
Conclusions: Tropical pyomyositis is rare in healthy individuals and requires high clinical suspicion. Prognosis is generally favorable after surgical drainage and adequate antimicrobial therapy.