An uncommon cause of Staphylococcus aureus sepsis.

We describe a case of Staphylococcus aureus sepsis after acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Sepsis is a rare, but potentially fatal complication of acupuncture. The most common cause of bacterial infection after acupuncture is S. aureus. The effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of CFS is not proven, therefore the potential benefits should be weighed against the risks.