Rhabdomyolysis and systemic infection

Rhabdomyolysis is a well-recognised but underdiagnosed cause of acute renal failure. Most cases are secondary to trauma or ischaemia. More recently cases of non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis have been reported in comatose patients after overdoses of narcotics, sedatives, and alcohol, where pressure-induced ischaemia may be responsible. Rhabdomyolysis secondary to sepsis has not been recognised often despite early reports in patients with severe lung infections. We report three cases of rhabdomyolysis in patients with severe fungal and bacterial infections.