Acute Staphylococcal myocarditis masquerading as an acute myocardial infarction

It is well known that viral myocarditis can mimic acute myocardial infarction and the differentiation of both diseases presents a diagnostic challenge. This report discusses the case presentation of an 18-year-old man who developed acute Staphylococcal myocarditis in the setting of acute tonsillitis in whom clinical, enzymatic, and electrocardiographic findings have led to tentative erroneous diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. The outcome was favorable with cephalotin and captopril therapy. This is the first reported case of bacterial myocarditis masquerading as an acute myocardial infarction. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.