[Coexistent septic arthritis and spondylodiscitis as important differential diagnosis in immunosuppressed patients]

Septic arthritis and spondylodiscitis, especially in immunocompromised patients, constitute a major differential diagnosis of joint or back pain. This results in the invasion of a joint or spinal disc and its adjacent vertebral body by a pathogen. In most cases this is manifested as unspecific symptoms, such as local joint or back pain, fever and malaise. If this is clinically suspected the bacterial infection of the joint can be confirmed by joint puncture and blood culture. For the diagnosis of spondylodiscitis magnetic resonance imaging should be used for visualization. In addition to adequate pain treatment and empirical antibiotic treatment, an arthroscopic removal of infected intra-articular tissue and debris is imperative. When complications caused by spondylodiscitis arise a surgical removal and stabilization should be performed. The following case report presents the findings of septic polyarthritis and spondylodiscitis in an immunocompromised patient with an HIV infection and provides insights into the occurrence of complications due to the delay of adequate treatment.