[Infectious arthritis in hospital patients in Lomé, Togo]

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and semiological profile of infectious arthritis in the outpatient clinic of the Tokoin University Hospital Center in Lomé, Togo.

This study was based on a review of the charts of patients hospitalized in the rheumatology department over a period of 16 years.

During the 16-year study period, 198 of the 13517 patients (1.5%) examined were hospitalized for infectious arthritis. There were 100 women and 98 men with a mean age of 36.3 +/- 17.5 years. Mean disease duration was 9.3 +/- 9.8 months. Diagnosis was banal germ arthritis in 157 cases (79.3%) and likely tuberculosis arthritis in 41 (20.7%). The knee was the most common location (34.3%). Arthritis affected a single joint in 159 cases (80.3%). Isolation of offending microorganism was achieved in 39 patients (19.7%). The most frequently identified agent was Staphylococcus aureus (42.5%). In addition to underdevelopment and poor hygiene observed in most patients in this series, risk factors included human immunodeficiency virus infection in 28 cases, alcoholism in 10, sickle cell anemia in 8, cancer in 3, and diabetes mellitus in 2. Outcome was favorable in 181 patients (88.7%). Four patients died.

The frequency of infectious arthritis is correlated with underdevelopment and poor hygiene in black Africa.