A case of negative pressure wound therapy for MRSA wound infection during treatment of chest wall tuberculosis

The patient was a 64-year-old woman who had received treatment for tuberculous pleurisy. A tumor was located from the right tenth intercostal space to the subcutaneous area. Incisional drainage was performed. We diagnosed the patient with chest wall tuberculosis by PCR amplification. Since flushing and antibiotics were ineffective and the wound did not close spontaneously, we performed partial resection of the 11th rib and wide debridement of the abscess. However, the wound was reopened for surgical site infection with MRSA. We started negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for drainage and wound healing. The wound margin was shrunk by NPWT, and closed without a muscle flap procedure. No local relapse has been observed for about six years.