Bone and joint infections: pyomyositis: practice question

A Orthopaedics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Orthopaedics · Bone and joint infections: pyomyositis

Sample item

A 14-year-old boy in rural India develops four days of fever and a firm, tender, woody swelling of the thigh after minor muscle trauma. Joint movement is painless, the radiograph is normal and ultrasound shows an intramuscular collection. What is the most common causative organism?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Staphylococcus aureus

Tropical pyomyositis is a primary bacterial abscess within skeletal muscle, and Staphylococcus aureus is responsible in the large majority. Treatment is drainage of the collection with antistaphylococcal antibiotics.

Option by option

  • A. Streptococcus pyogenes

    Streptococcus pyogenes is the second most frequent cause but much less common.

  • B. Staphylococcus aureus (correct)

    Correct. Staphylococcus aureus causes most cases of pyomyositis.

  • C. Clostridium perfringens

    Clostridium perfringens causes gas gangrene with crepitus and toxaemia, not a localised abscess.

  • D. Mycobacterium tuberculosis

    Tuberculosis gives a chronic cold abscess without acute fever and tenderness.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Orthopaedics question

What is the answer to this Orthopaedics question?

The best answer is B, Staphylococcus aureus. Tropical pyomyositis is a primary bacterial abscess within skeletal muscle, and Staphylococcus aureus is responsible in the large majority.

Why is "Streptococcus pyogenes" not the answer?

Streptococcus pyogenes is the second most frequent cause but much less common.

Why is "Clostridium perfringens" not the answer?

Clostridium perfringens causes gas gangrene with crepitus and toxaemia, not a localised abscess.

Why is "Mycobacterium tuberculosis" not the answer?

Tuberculosis gives a chronic cold abscess without acute fever and tenderness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bone and joint infections: pyomyositis in Orthopaedics. Treatment is drainage of the collection with antistaphylococcal antibiotics.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Bone and joint infections: pyomyositis?

Pair each fracture with its classic complication and nerve injured. Then use the flashcards and the other Orthopaedics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.