Secondary hemophagocytic syndrome in a patient with methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia due to severe decubitus ulcer

A 51-year-old man with poliomyelitis was admitted to emergency because of a severe decubitus ulcer on his right hip that was associated with infection. His general condition deteriorated and he was malnourished and dehydrated. Despite adequate hyperalimentation and antibiotic administration, laboratory data indicated pancytopenia 4 days later. He was diagnosed as having secondary hemophagocytosis (HPS) associated with methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus sepsis due to decubitus inflammation based on bone marrow aspiration and a blood culture. Although granulocyte colony stimulating factor, packed red blood cell transfusions, platelet transfusions, and antibiotics gradually improved the pancytopenia, the patient died of massive gastrointestinal tract bleeding.