Five cases of Kingella kingae skeletal infection in a French hospital

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B La Scola1, I Iorgulescu, G Bollini

  • 1Unité des Rickettsies, UPRESA 6020, Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France.

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
|October 9, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Kingella kingae causes skeletal infections in young children, often presenting with respiratory or skin issues. Prompt diagnosis using advanced imaging and blood cultures leads to favorable outcomes with antibiotics.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Bacterial Skeletal Infections
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Kingella kingae is an emerging cause of invasive pediatric infections.
  • Skeletal infections in young children can be challenging to diagnose.
  • Early identification is crucial for effective treatment and patient outcomes.

Observation:

  • A retrospective review identified five pediatric cases of Kingella kingae skeletal infections.
  • Patients presented with septic spondylodiskitis, osteomyelitis, and hip-joint arthritis.
  • Preceding upper respiratory tract infection or eczema was noted in all patients.

Findings:

  • Standard radiography was often inconclusive for diagnosing these skeletal infections.
  • 99mTc bone scans and MRI revealed significant abnormalities.
  • Kingella kingae was successfully isolated from fluid aspirates using the Bactec blood culture system.
  • The bacterium demonstrated sensitivity to common antibiotics, ensuring favorable treatment responses.

Implications:

  • Advanced imaging techniques like MRI are vital for diagnosing Kingella kingae skeletal infections.
  • Blood culture systems are effective for isolating Kingella kingae.
  • Prompt diagnosis and antibiotic treatment lead to positive patient outcomes in Kingella kingae skeletal infections.

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