Fusobacterium septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint

We describe a case of septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint caused by Fusobacterium in an otherwise healthy young man. The Fusobacterium had morphologic features most in keeping with Fusobacterium (F.) necrophorum, which was a common organism in sternoclavicular septic arthritis in the preantibiotic era. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of a fusobacterium sternoclavicular joint infection in the antibiotic era. This case should lead to heightened awareness of sternoclavicular joint infection and fusobacterium joint infection in the healthy host.