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Septic arthritis due to Pasteurella multocida complicating rheumatoid arthritis
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
|August 1, 1979
Abstract:
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis treated with corticosteroids developed a septic arthritis of her right knee. She had been bitten on her right leg by her pet cat 2 weeks earlier. Pasteurella multocida, resistant to penicillin, was isolated from the septic joint and from the oropharynx of the cat. The arthritis was successfully treated with ampicillin. No attempt to eradicate the organism from the cat was made because of the expectation of early recolonisation.
Insights
A cat bite led to septic arthritis in a rheumatoid arthritis patient. Pasteurella multocida infection, resistant to penicillin, was treated successfully with ampicillin.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Rheumatology
- Veterinary Medicine
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis patients on corticosteroids are immunocompromised, increasing infection risk.
- Septic arthritis is a serious joint infection requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Observation:
- A patient with rheumatoid arthritis and corticosteroid treatment experienced a right knee septic arthritis.
- The patient reported a cat bite on her right leg two weeks prior to symptom onset.
Findings:
- Pasteurella multocida was identified in the infected knee joint and the patient's pet cat's oropharynx.
- The isolated Pasteurella multocida strain demonstrated resistance to penicillin but was susceptible to ampicillin.
- Successful treatment of the septic arthritis was achieved with ampicillin therapy.
Implications:
- Pasteurella multocida, often transmitted via animal bites, can cause severe joint infections.
- Prompt antibiotic treatment, considering bacterial susceptibility, is crucial for managing septic arthritis.
- The potential for early recolonization in pets necessitates careful consideration in managing zoonotic infections.