Purpose: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is an unusual finding in abscesses of deep fascial planes of the neck. This case report highlights MRSA found in the deep neck spaces in an otherwise healthy adult individual. The patient in question was treated with multiple incision and drainage procedures, tracheotomy, and culture-guided antibiotic therapy with concomitant infectious disease support. A review of literature to evaluate the incidence of such cases as well as the indicated surgical treatment is discussed.

Methods: Ovid Medline search strategy was performed with the following keywords: “Staphylococcaceae, Head, Skull, Neck, Pharyngeal, Throat, MRSA”.

Results: 18 articles were discovered using these research parameters. Of these resources, 5 mentioned MRSA and only 2 of these involved the oral cavity.

Conclusion: This case highlights the need for early and aggressive surgical intervention, vigilant post-operative re-evaluation and multiple drainage procedures if necessary when faced with an unusual infectious process of the head and neck. In addition, culture-guided antibiotic selection and infectious disease consultation is an imperative adjunct to obtain a successful surgical and clinical outcome.

Conflict of interest: None declared.