Causes of a Psoas Abscess

 

Sources:

(1) hematogenous spread

(2) direct extension from an adjacent infection

 

Hematogenous source:

(1) in a pediatric patient as a spontaneous event, typically due to Staphylococcus aureus

(2) in a woman following spontaneous vaginal delivery

 

Adjacent infections include:

(1) osteomyelitis of a vertebral body (associated with tuberculosis, deep fungal infection, Staphylococcus aureus, other bacteria)

(2) osteomyelitis of the ilium

(3) septic arthritis of the sacroiliac joint

(4) intra-abdominal abscess (associated with diverticulitis, appendicitis, Crohn's disease, other)

(5) perinephric abscess

(6) infected retroperitoneal hematoma