title: Disseminated Aspergillus flavus following septic arthritis in an immunocompetent patient: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aspergillosis is a rare cause of osteomyelitis and septic arthritis. Aspergillus osteomyelitis is a debilitating infection affecting both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. It is associated with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. Infection with Aspergillus flavus species in the knee has been very rarely seen in the past.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case of septic arthritis of the knee in an Indian patient secondary to infection with Aspergillus flavus, which was earlier managed as a case of tuberculosis based on the endemicity of the condition, later leading to disseminated aspergillosis. There was no clinical feature or investigation suggesting immunocompromised state. Following knee arthrotomy, Aspergillus flavus was isolated and patient was subsequently managed with antifungals leading to recovery after three months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disseminated aspergillosis can mimic tuberculosis both clinically and radiologically. Though fungal infections affect joints rarely but they must always be ruled out to avoid later complications.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.forename: Kavin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khatri
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India. shahalamkhan70@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shah Alam
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Devajit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000150:complications*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents