[Septic arthritis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae].

INTRODUCTION

There are few reports of Streptococcus pneumoniae as a cause of septic arthritis. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with five documented cases of pneumococcal arthritis over 14 years.

METHODS

The medical histories of infectious septic arthritis in our center between January 1986 and December 2000 were retrospectively reviewed. Cases of pneumococcal etiology were analyzed while those occurring in the neonatal and immediate postoperative periods were excluded.

RESULTS

Among the 39 documented cases of septic arthritis, 5 (12.8 %) were caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Four of the patients were younger than 15 months old. Fever without localizing signs as an antecedent was present in four patients; of these, one patient had concurrent otitis media. The most common localization was the hip (four patients) and the knee (one patient). In three patients simple radiology showed no abnormalities while in four ultrasonography showed abnormalities. Etiologic diagnosis was established by isolation of S. pneumoniae from blood culture and synovial fluid (one patient), from blood culture (one patient), from synovial fluid (two patients), and by detection of pneumococcal antigen in urine (one patient). Of the germs isolated, two showed reduced susceptibility to penicillin (CMI 0.125-1 mg/l) and all were susceptible to cefotaxime. Open drainage was performed in all patients with hip involvement. None of the patients presented sequelae.

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience, S. pneumoniae should be taken into account as a cause of septic arthritis that mainly affects children younger than 15 months. The hip was the most frequently involved joint. Joint fluid culture was the method providing the best diagnostic yield. A high proportion of strains are not susceptible to penicillin. Early diagnosis and management lead to a good prognosis.