Abstract: Acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST), secondary to a bacterial infection, is a rare but
potentially life-threatening endocrine disorder. The traditional treatment for this disease is
surgery in conjunction with targeted antibiotic therapy. It is well known that the thyroid gland
resists infection through rich blood supply and lymphatic drainage, high iodine content in the
glands which can be bactericidal, and separation of the gland from other neck structures. In
this article, we present a 63-year-old woman with a thyroid abscess. She had fever, painful
neck swelling, sore throat, tachycardia, limited neck movement, and dysphagia. The
microorganism responsible was found to be Staphylococcus aureus. Treatment was started
with intravenous antibiotics and continued with incision and drainage. Thus, the process
resulted in an uncomplicated recovery for the patient.
Key words: thyroid gland, abscess, Staphylococcus aureus, acute thyroiditis, treatment

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