OBJECTIVE: To compare, by means of a prospective and randomized study, the treatment outcomes of Tropical Pyomyositis (TP) through open drainage of abscesses versus percutaneous surgical drainage. METHODS: 25 patients with TP (Chiedozi stage II) were randomized into two groups: Group A (n=13), treated with antibiotics and open drainage of the abscesses, and Group B (n=12), treated with antibiotics and percutaneous drainage. RESULTS: The mean age was 35.3 years (±19.2) in Group A and 30.1 years in Group B (±9) (p=0.41).There were eight female (61.5%) and five male (38.5%) patients in Group A; in Group B three were female (25%) and nine (75%) male (p=0.11). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent agent found (72%). The mean hospitalization period in Group A was 12.7 days (±2.3), and in Group B, 10.6 days (±1.6) (p=0.01). The mean antibiotics treatment period in Group A was 12.2 days (±2.3), and 10.1 days (±1.5) in Group B (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: The percutaneous drainage of the abscesses is an efficient treatment method for the Tropical Pyomyositis, with a shorter period of hospitalization and antibiotics usage.
Pyomyositis; Myositis; Staphylococcus aureus; Abscess