[Pneumococcal septic arthritis in a Spanish university hospital (1993- 2003)].
BACKGROUND
Cases of pneumococcal septic arthritis treated in the Fundación Jiménez Díaz (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.
Barahona
Lucía
L
Departamento de Microbiología Médica, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Madrid, Spain. lucibellita@hotmail.com
Soriano
Francisco
F
Fernández-Robles
Ricardo
R
Granizo
Juan José
JJ
López-Durán
Juan Carlos
JC
D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000382:microbiology; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain