Septic Joints: Finger and Wrist.

Infections in the joints of the hand and wrist carry the risk of significant morbidity. Common presenting symptoms include joint redness, swelling, and pseudoparalysis that occurs several days following a penetrating trauma. Diagnostic workup should be expedited, including a laboratory evaluation and arthrocentesis. Imaging, including radiographs, ultrasound, computed tomography, and/or MRI, are helpful tools in diagnosis. Once infection is identified, prompt surgical debridement and antibiotics are required. Once the infection has been managed, hand therapy is initiated to decrease the risk of stiffness. Stiffness is the most common complication following infection; additional reported complications include arthritis, ankylosis, and amputation."

Septic arthritis caused by Mycobacterium marinum.

The incidence of infection by Mycobacterium marinum is rising, mainly due to the increasing popularity of home aquariums. The infection typically manifests as skin lesions, with septic arthritis being a rare presentation form. The disease is difficult to diagnose even when there is a high clinical suspicion, as culture in specific media may not yield positive findings. Thus, establishment of appropriate treatment is often delayed. Synovectomy, capsular thinning, and joint drainage together with prolonged, combined antibiotic therapy may be needed to cure the infection.

A typically atypical tenosynovitis.

A 68-year-old woman developed tenosynovitis of the right second digit without a history of injury or animal bites. Apart from high titer anti-nuclear antibodies, serological studies were unremarkable. Tuberculin test and interferon gamma release assay were both negative. Several immunosuppressive therapies led only to partial relief of symptoms. Of note, clinical symptoms worsened significantly after introduction of adalimumab therapy. Tenosynovectomy was performed revealing a granulomatous inflammatory process. Seven weeks later, Mycobacterium malmoense could be cultured from the surgical specimen. A four drug antibiotic regimen was started and immunosuppressive therapy discontinued resulting in complete clinical remission. Our case highlights non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) tenosynovitis as an important differential diagnosis of atypical arthritis. A negative tuberculin skin test as well as negative Ziehl-Neelsen stain does not argue against NTM infection. In fact, mycobacterial culture for extended periods remains the gold standard for diagnosis.

Pyarthrosis of the small joints of the hand resulting in arthrodesis or amputation.

PURPOSE: A septic joint is a cartilage-threatening emergency requiring prompt treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes of septic arthritis of the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with joint infection between 1976 and 2008. The end point included the number of arthrodeses and amputations performed. RESULTS: Septic joints were identified in 110 patients. All patients had incision and irrigation and debridement (I and D) of the joint. The infection was successfully treated in 83 of 110 patients. The majority of septic joints (73 of 83 patients) treated successfully with I and D had only a penetrating joint injury. Forty-eight of these patients required more than one I and D to eradicate the infection. The remaining 27 of 110 patients required either arthrodesis (13 patients) or amputation (14 patients) despite I and D. Among the 13 patients requiring arthrodesis, postoperative infection (7 patients) accounted for the majority of septic joints. Of the 14 patients requiring amputation, penetrating joint injury accounted for the majority of septic joints. Overall, those patients requiring more than 3 I and D procedures were at higher risk of arthrodesis or amputation. Increasing comorbidities correlated with worsening outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Pyarthrosis can often be treated successfully with 1 or more I and D procedures. Despite multiple I and D procedures, 27 patients required either arthrodesis or amputation. The time to diagnosis and treatment, the number of I and D procedures, patient comorbidities, and postoperative infection following non-joint surgery are major factors influencing outcome.

Isolation of Pantoea agglomerans in two cases of septic monoarthritis after plant thorn and wood sliver injuries.

Arthritis after plant injury is often apparently aseptic. We report two cases due to Pantoea agglomerans. In one case, the bacterium was isolated only from the pediatric blood culture media, BACTEC Peds Plus, monitored in BACTEC 9240, and not from the other media inoculated with the joint fluid. This procedure could help improve the diagnosis of septic arthritis.

Mycobacterium marinum infection causing septic arthritis and osteomyelitis.

A 48-yr-old female on immunosuppressive therapy for fibrosing alveolitis and polymyositis developed a septic arthritis of the left middle finger proximal interphalangeal joint, tenosynovitis of the left palm and osteomyelitis of the right hindfoot due to infection with Mycobacterium marinum. Such widespread and severe bone and joint involvement has not been described previously with this organism.

Peptostreptococcus magnus septic arthritis--a report and review of the English literature.

We describe a 30-year-old female presenting with synovitis of the left 4th proximal interphalangeal joint. Anaerobic cultures of the synovial membrane grew Peptostreptococcus magnus. The synovitis resolved after a course of intravenous penicillin G. The role of the anaerobic bacterium Peptostreptococcus magnus in joint infections is reviewed.

Blastomycosis presenting as polyarticular septic arthritis.

Articular infection with Blastomyces dermatitidis frequently is difficult to diagnose as it resembles bacterial arthritis in several ways. This report of an elderly man who had initially monoarticular and eventually polyarticular arthritis illustrates the clinical and laboratory findings that should suggest blastomycosis. Treatment with amphotericin B and ketoconazole in sequence led to complete resolution of the infection.

Monoarthritis due to Mycobacterium chelonei.

A 48-year-old woman with infection of the tendon sheaths and proximal interphalangeal joint by Mycobacterium chelonei is described. Antibiotic therapy was not administered, and the patient recovered spontaneously.

Synovial infection with Mycobacterium kansasii.

Atypical mycobacteria have been recognised as saprophytic organisms for many years, but it was only with the development of better microbiological culture techniques that they became recognised as potentially pathogenic to man. Infections of tendon sheaths and joints by these organisms may present diagnostic problems, and we report here 3 cases in which Mycobacterium kansasii was responsible for disease at the hand and wrist.

Identification of Ureaplasma urealyticum (T-strain Mycoplasma) in patient with polyarthritis.

A 10-year-old boy with confirmed congenital agammaglobulinaemia presented with polyarthritis while on gammaglobulin replacement therapy. Initial cultures of material aspirated from an abscess and of joint fluid were negative, and symptoms progressed despite antibiotic therapy. Synovial-biopsy material, cultured specifically for mycoplasmas, was positive for Ureaplasma urealyticum as were the blood, abscess fluids, throat-swab, and nasopharyngeal secretions. Therapy, based on in-vitro studies of antibiotic susceptibilities of the organism, resulted in the eradication of the infection and resolution of the arthritis. These findings suggest that U. urealyticum may be capable of inducing polyarthritis in man.