A 42 year old male presented with a 5 day history of minor trauma to the left upper limb, followed by progressively increasing pain, swelling and discoloration of skin. On examination, the patient was found to be septic and died within 24 hours of admission, despite aggressive surgical management. Postmortem examination revealed extensive necrosis of the upper limb and chest wall muscles. Culture of swabs taken from spleen and affected muscle groups yielded a pure growth of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The necessity for early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment in necrotizing soft tissue infections as well as the emergence of community acquired MRSA as a potential pathogenis highlighted in this case.