HIV infection and Salmonella septic arthritis

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection predisposes to bacterial infection at may sites but septic arthritis is notably uncommon. An HIV seropositive patient who presented with oligoarticular septic arthritis due to Salmonella enteritidis and who responded poorly to antibiotic therapy and repeated aspiration of involved joints is described. Unusual features included the clinical presentation of septic arthritis in more than one joint, a protracted clinical course with radiological destruction of the hip, bone marrow suppression induced by cotrimoxazole, and death thought to be due to a gastropathy induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy at a time when the septic arthritis appeared to have responded to treatment. Cure of Salmonella septic arthritis in HIV infected patients may be difficult and require aggressive prolonged treatment. Septic arthritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis in a patient with HIV infection and arthritis.