Infectious Costochondritis With Sternal Osteomyelitis
Abstract
Costochondritis is primarily caused by physical exertion, repetitive movements (such as lifting heavy objects), and severe coughing. Although it is an inflammatory condition, it is not an infection and is often treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In contrast, infectious costochondritis usually develops when an infection spreads directly from a postoperative wound or adjacent foci. We present a case of infectious costochondritis with sternal osteomyelitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, where the infection did not spread from adjacent tissues. A 59-year-old man was referred to our hospital with anterior chest pain and swelling persisting for three months. He had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus three years prior. Three weeks before his visit, a purulent exudate had fistulized into the skin. Two weeks prior, he had sought care from a nearby doctor, who diagnosed a subcutaneous abscess and performed an incision and drainage. Cultures identified P. aeruginosa. However, the condition did not improve, and chest computed tomography (CT) was performed, showing edema around the seventh costal cartilage, the inferior end of the sternum, and surrounding subcutaneous tissue. Distraction of the seventh costal cartilage was also noted. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with fat-suppressed T2-weighted images showed high intensity in the same area. Blood cultures were negative. Based on these findings, we diagnosed costochondritis and sternal osteomyelitis.…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case report, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Ferulic acid regulates the AKT/GSK-3β/CRMP-2 signaling pathway in a middle cerebral artery occlusion animal model
- Novel Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Parameters Quantify the Exposure–Effect Relationship of Levofloxacin against Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Escherichia coli
- Photochemical behavior of levofloxacin
- Correlation Between Dissolution Profiles of Salt-Form Drugs in Biorelevant Bicarbonate Buffer and Oral Drug Absorption: Importance of Dose/ Fluid Volume Ratio
- Evaluation of the synergistic potential and mechanisms of action for de novo designed cationic antimicrobial peptides
- Synthesis of [11C]levofloxacin
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.