Rare bugs in the new millennium: Splenic abscess and iliopsoas abscess – Case series

Splenic abscess is a rare but serious condition, with mortality rates reaching nearly half of affected patients and approaching 100% without antibiotic therapy. Timely management can reduce mortality to below 10%. Clinical signs are often non-specific, making diagnosis challenging, though history and examination may raise suspicion. Hematogenous spread from distant infections is the most common cause, with aerobes frequently implicated. Typical pathogens include Gram-positive cocci such as Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Enterococcus, as well as Gram-negative bacilli such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas, and Salmonella. Iliopsoas abscess rarely arises from contiguous or hematogenous infection, with variable presentation and notable relapse risk. We report 3 such cases and all the patient recovered clinically and better outcome was noted. A brief review of the literature pertaining to these cases is also studied.