The University of Toledo Translation Journal of Medical Sciences 
Infectious Diseases Abstract, Department of Medicine Research Symposium    UTJMS 2023 May 5; 11(1):e1-e1 

Daptomycin Induced Rhabdomyolysis and 
Subsequent Compartment Syndrome: A 
Case Report 
Katherine Esser, M21*, Caitlyn Hollingshead, MD1, Jeff Cross, MD1, Trevor Bouck, MD2, David Yatsonsky, MD2 

1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The University of Toledo, 
Toledo, OH 43614 
2Department of Surgery, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614 

*Corresponding author: Katherine.Esser@rockets.utoledo.edu

Published: 05 May 2023 

Introduction: Rhabdomyolysis is an infrequent complication of Daptomycin, but progression to compartment 
syndrome has not previously been reported in published literature. We present a case of a 56-year-old who 
developed compartment syndrome after daptomycin treatment for a S. aureus infection of a penile implant.   

Case Presentation: The patient presented to the emergency department complaining of bilateral upper extremity 
pain and swelling for several hours. The patient was 5 days into a 4-week course of daptomycin prescribed to him 
from another healthcare facility to treat an S. aureus infection of a penile implant complicated by bacteraemia. 
The patient complained of arm swelling and pain that developed several days prior to presentation. Physical 
examination revealed significant swelling and allodynia of the bilateral forearms. Laboratory evaluation revealed 
markedly increased creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and D-dimer levels, indicating severe rhabdomyolysis. During 
his admission, his forearm pain worsened, and he was diagnosed with bilateral forearm compartment syndrome. 
Emergent fasciotomies of bilateral forearms were completed and resolved the compartment syndrome. He 
subsequently recovered with minimal clinical sequela.   

Discussion: While compartment syndrome occurs secondarily to fractures in 75% of cases, it can also be a 
sequelae of soft tissue injuries, poor positioning during surgery, burns, vascular injuries, infections, and 
medication. Prescribing physicians should be cognizant of the possibility of compartment syndrome in patients 
with severe rhabdomyolysis secondary to daptomycin so that intracompartmental pressures can be obtained and 
surgical management quickly initiated. 

https://dx.doi.org/10.46570/utjms.vol11-2023-751 

https://dx.doi.org/10.46570/utjms.vol11-2023-751
mailto:Katherine.Esser@rockets.utoledo.edu