Polymicrobial polyarticular septic arthritis
B. G. Petty, D. T. Sowa and P. Charache
A bacteriology technologist was found to have acute polyarticular arthritis
after a brief prodromal illness. Gram's stain of fluid from the right knee
showed pleomorphic gram-negative organisms, while that of fluid from the
right elbow and left wrist showed gram-negative cocci and diplococci.
Culture of fluid from the right knee yielded Salmonella enteritidis.
Cultures of fluid from all other joints, collected after starting therapy,
were negative. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of fluid from the right
elbow confirmed Neisseria meningitidis, group C. This organism was also
isolated from the patient's throat. This case represents concurrent
infection of separate joints by two bacterial pathogens, one confirmed by
culture and one by current immunodiagnostic techniques.
