Preoperative blood cultures grew Staphylococcus aureus, sensitive to vancomycin and ceftriaxone. Laboratory tests demonstrated leukocytosis of 15.6 × 109/L (reference: 4.0-9.0 × 109/L), anemia with hemoglobin of 102 g/L (reference: 130-170 g/L), elevated ESR of 55 mm/h (reference: <15 mm/h), and C-reactive protein of 96 mg/L (reference: <5 mg/L). Here, CRP is linked to anemia.