Pneumococcal septic arthritis in a Spanish university hospital (1993-2003)

INTRODUCTION. Cases of pneumococcal septic arthritis treated in the Fundacion Jimenez Diaz (Madrid, Spain) were reviewed. METHODS. A retrospective record review was conducted for all patients presenting with pneumococcal septic arthritis between January 1993 and August 2003. RESULTS. Four patients out of a total of 267 reviewed had a clinical and microbiological diagnosis of septic arthritis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The most frequent locations were the knee, ankle and tarsus. Three of the four patients had underlying diseases and one patient died. CONCLUSIONS. Pneumococcal septic arthritis, a very rare clinical entity diagnosed by clinical and microbiological findings, should be suspected in patients with underlying disease. Early antibiotic therapy focussed on the most common microorganisms causing septic arthritis is necessary for optimal outcome.