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.
Department of Internal Medicine, Central Hospital of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy. christian.wiedermann@asbz.it
Christian J
CJ
Wiedermann
Ingrid
I
Stockner
Birgit
B
Plattner
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