Destructive pneumococcal septic arthritis in end-stage renal disease

Pneumococcal arthritis generally presents as non-destructive monoarthritis, although some underlying metabolic disorders such as liver failure and diabetes have been suggested to represent a risk factor for severe joint disease. Here we report a case of destructive pneumococcal arthritis of the left hip joint in a patient suffering from chronic renal failure treated with hemodialysis for ten years. Inspite of effective anti-pneumococcal antibiotic treatment, the patient with pre- existing renal osteopathy and a mild osteoarthritis continued to suffer from severe and disabling pain of the left hip. This case demonstrates that pneumococcal joint infection in patients with underlying uremic bone disease can lead to quick deterioration of the affected joint.