Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Empyema Post-Covid Infection Causing Severe Septic Shock and Multiorgan Failure

Authors

Antony Arumairaj, Internal Medicine, Metropolitan Hospital Center/New York Medical College, New York City, USA.Follow
Ali Safavi, Surgery, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Metropolitan Hospital Center/New York Medical College, New York City, USA.
Hossam Amin, Internal Medicine/Division of Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, Metropolitan Hospital Center/New York Medical College, New York City, USA.Follow
Armeen Poor, Internal Medicine/Division of Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, Metropolitan Hospital Center/New York Medical College, New York City, USA.
Natoushka Trenard, Internal Medicine/Division of Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, Metropolitan Hospital Center/New York Medical College, New York City, USA.

Author Type(s)

Faculty

DOI

10.7759/cureus.41054

Journal Title

Cureus

First Page

e41054

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2023

Department

Medicine

Abstract

Secondary bacterial infections post-COVID infection posed a major challenge to the healthcare settings during the COVID pandemic. We present the case of an 81-year-old patient who was initially admitted for COVID pneumonia in a tertiary care hospital and was managed with a course of dexamethasone and had a good outcome. However, post-discharge, the patient developed symptoms of productive cough, hemoptysis and shortness of breath. Evaluation of the patient revealed that the patient had developed a secondary bacterial infection with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), resulting in MRSA pneumonia and empyema. The patient was started on appropriate antibiotics and underwent thoracocentesis followed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and decortication. MRSA infection resulted in severe septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiorgan failure. Successful intensive care unit (ICU) management of the life-threatening complications resulted in the remarkable recovery of the patient.

Recommended Citation

Arumairaj, A., Safavi, A., Amin, H., Poor, A., & Trenard, N. (2023). Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Empyema Post-Covid Infection Causing Severe Septic Shock and Multiorgan Failure. Cureus, 15 (6), e41054. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.41054