The case reported is thought to be of interest and value because it illustrates the following features, which may be forgotten or overlooked.
1. Bacterial infection may not be controlled by antibiotic therapy even when in vitro tests indicate that the organism is sensitive to the specific antibiotic being used.
2. Antibiotic therapy is not a substitute for, but is an adjunct to, adequate surgical care and good surgical judgment.
3. In certain resistant infections, the solution of the problem presented may lie in the use of measures specific for the particular situation. Unless such unusual situations are promptly recognized, effective therapy may be unduly delayed.