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Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis due to Kingella kingae in an infant
Conor Garry1,2, Andrew Ernst3, Matthew Langford2
1Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA conor.garry@nyulangone.org.
Insights
Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis is rare in young children. Kingella kingae is an emerging cause of this infection, even in infants with deep space hand infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Microbiology
Background:
- Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis is common in adults but rarely documented in pediatric populations.
- Kingella kingae is an increasingly recognized pathogen in pediatric bone and joint infections.
Observation:
- A case report details an infant with a palmar deep space infection and pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis.
- The infection was definitively caused by Kingella kingae.
Findings:
- Kingella kingae is a fastidious organism, often leading to culture-negative results.
- This organism is increasingly implicated in pediatric orthopedic infections, including tenosynovitis.
Implications:
- Heightened clinical suspicion is crucial for diagnosing Kingella kingae infections in children.
- Broadening antibiotic coverage is recommended when physical findings suggest infection but blood cultures are negative.
Abstract:
Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis is relatively common but is seldom reported in young children. Kingella kingae is increasingly recognised as a causative agent. We report on an infant who presented with a palmar deep space infection and pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis caused by K. kingae K. kingae is a fastidious, often culture-negative, organism which has been increasingly recognised as a cause of paediatric orthopaedic infections, including flexor tenosynovitis. Clinical suspicion should be heightened, and antibiotic coverage broadened in the setting of a positive physical examination and negative blood cultures.
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