Myositis complicating viridans streptococcal sepsis in childhood leukemia.

Hematogenous focal infections are a rare complication of bacteremia or sepsis caused by viridans-group streptococci. We describe two patients with acute leukemia who developed myositis during alpha-hemolytic streptococcal bacteremia. Children complaining of severe muscle pain associated with viridans streptococcal infections should be carefully evaluated for the presence of focal pyogenic complications and rhabdomyolysis. The severity of infectious myositis is highly variable, depending on the etiologic organism and host immunity, making individualized treatment the most effective approach.