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Streptococcus intermedius causing cellulitis of the penile shaft complicated with abscess formation and rupture after dry humping sex
  1. Fang Shen,
  2. Gowribahan Thevarajah and
  3. Janice Cheng
  1. Urology Department, Northern Hospital Epping, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Fang Shen; fshen{at}aliyun.com

Abstract

Penile cellulitis with abscess formation then rupture is an extremely rare presentation. This is a case report of a penile shaft abscess caused by Streptococcus intermedius after ‘dry humping’ sexual activities. A 34-year-old healthy man was presented with painful penile swelling for 3 weeks after initial ‘dry humping’ and later penovaginal intercourse. He was admitted to the hospital for intravenous antibiotics treatment, but a penile abscess was developed and ruptured within 24 hours. Urgent penile exploration revealed localised abscess and S. intermedius was isolated. The wound healed by secondary intention. However, his admission was complicated by acute kidney injury, probably due to vancomycin. Therefore, longer inpatient supportive care was required before discharge. Given this severe complication of primary penile cutaneous infection by S. intermedius, our case would raise awareness of this normal flora in abscess development at the male genital region, and the importance for the patient seeking prompt medical advice and physicians administrating appropriate antibiotics.

  • infections
  • urinary and genital tract disorders
  • sexual transmitted infections (bacterial)
  • urological surgery

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Footnotes

  • Contributors FS conceived and drafted the manuscript. TG performed the operation. JC reviewed the manuscript.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.