Bacillus species infective arthritis after knee arthroscopy.
BACKGROUND
Bacillus species infection of the joints is a very rare occurrence, with sporadic reports in the medical literature.


METHODS
A 67-year-old woman with osteoarthritis developed infection in the knee joint after arthroscopy. Percutaneous needle aspiration of articular fluid performed post-operatively showed a positive culture for Bacillus species. The diagnosis of septic arthritis was, however, not confirmed as the results were considered contamination. Failure of treatment with beta-lactam antibiotics on two occasions and successful cure of infective arthritis by long-term administration of a fluoroquinolone confirmed iatrogenic clinical joint infection with Bacillus species.


CONCLUSIONS
Any clinically suspected joint infection must be treated as septic arthritis until proved otherwise.
Wiedermann
Christian J
CJ
Department of Internal Medicine, Central Hospital of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy. christian.wiedermann@asbz.it
Stockner
Ingrid
I
Plattner
Birgit
B
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001407:Bacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D047090:beta-Lactams