Methicillin induced drug-fever during treatment for acute post traumatic osteomyelitis and septic arthritis.

High dose intravenous methicillin therapy is a common form of treatment for post traumatic acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis, with positive staphylococcus aureus cultures. A high and spiking fever, persisting in the face of adequate antibiotic therapy, presents a difficult diagnostic dilemma in such patients. In seven patients, methicillin induced drug fever was found to be the cause of such as persisting pyrexia, inspite of an adequate antibiotic regime. This diagnosis must be established by a cautious clinical evaluation and by a careful elimination of all other causes for fever. Upon discontinuation of methicillin, the body temperature reverted to normal within 24 h.