title: Rat Bite Fever: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
abstract: Cases of rat-bite fever (RBF) were reported in the literature for more than 2000 years. Not until recently, however, were attempts made to differentiate between RBF and Streptobacillus moniliformis septic arthritis, 2 arguably different clinical entities. There are limited data regarding S moniliformis septic arthritis and the features that distinguish it from RBF, and most conclude that although clinically disparate diseases, it is difficult to differentiate between them. We report a case of a 17-year-old girl who presented with S moniliformis bacteremia and symptoms that spanned both RBF and S moniliformis septic arthritis. This case emphasizes the difficulty in differentiating the 2 clinical entities and the importance of early diagnosis, proper clinical suspicion, and prompt treatment to achieve positive outcomes.
authors.forename: Justin W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Lilia B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Reyes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011906:Rat-Bite Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D051381:Rats; D013288:Streptobacillus
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents