Dermatomyositis following chronic staphylococcal joint sepsis.

A young man is reported with recurrent Staphylococcus aureus joint sepsis associated with dermatomyositis. His dermatomyositis failed to resolve on treatment with antimicrobial agents alone, indicating that if staphylococcal infection was the triggering event for the dermatomyositis then the subsequent process was apparently self perpetuating, requiring cytotoxic agents for its control. This case can be interpreted as possible further evidence for the triggering of autoimmune disease by infective agents.