Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a case of lymph node botryomycosis

Botryomycosis is an uncommon chronic bacterial infection, which usually involves the skin and the subcutaneous tissues. Visceral involvement often occurs in immunodepressed patients. We describe the case of a 4-year-old boy who presented a right inguinal inflammatory mass associated with pruritic papules without fever. Blood analyses showed a substantial inflammatory syndrome and blood hypereosinophilia. Histological examination of the right inguinal lymph node showed granulomatous adenitis with a Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon surrounding Gram-positive bacteria, corresponding to Staphylococcus aureus after biopsy culture. The diagnosis of S. aureus lymph node botryomycosis was made and the child was successfully treated with a double dose of oxacillin over 3 weeks.