[Septic phlebitis: origin of severe septic condition].

We report two patients, an 82 years old female and a 71 years old male, who had a severe sepsis with positive blood cultures for Staphylococcus aureus and a superficial phlebitis as the only probable focus. In both the diagnosis of septic phlebitis was reached and an emergency phlebotomy was performed under local anesthesia. The clinical response was satisfactory and the pathological examination of excised veins showed an acute exudative leukocytic thrombophlebitis.