Diagnosis and treatment for primary Candida parapsilosis infection of the native knee joint: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Candida arthritis is a very rare disease and Candida parapsilosis infection of the native knee joint is extremely rare. It is challenging to diagnose and treat because the clinical manifestations, laboratory and radiologic findings are not specific and not well defined. We report the rare case of C. parapsilosis infection of the native knee joint. CASE PRESENTATION: A 67-year-old man visit outpatient clinic for persistent right knee pain and effusion. Inflammatory markers were elevated and the biochemical studies of joint fluid showed elevated WBC counts. Under assumption of septic arthritis, arthroscopic irrigation and debridement were performed. C. parapsilosis was isolated on intraoperative knee joint culture. Fluconazole was used under diagnosis of Candida arthritis. Once there were no relapse of infection, total knee arthroplasty was implemented. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: As Candida arthritis can be lead to poor prognosis, Candida arthritis should be considered in patients with untreated knee infections. Blood and radiographic examination, and fungus culture from the knee joint should be accompanied for early diagnosis. Total knee arthroplasty may be considered after treatment of Candida infection with fluconazole. Prognosis was similar compared with patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty for primary knee osteoarthritis. CONCLUSION: If patients complaint persistent knee pain with or without effusion, surgeons should consider the possibility of Candida infection. After diagnosis of Candida arthritis, proper antifungal agents should be used for treatment of infection. After the infection has cleared up, total knee arthroplasty can be planned.

Unusual case of an elbow mass caused by Candida arthritis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A 45-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus presented with a painless bulky mass on her elbow. Joint fluid analysis showed the presence of a yeast-like organism. Surgical debridement was performed and specimens obtained at surgery showed growth of Candida albicans. Although Candida species are an uncommon cause of infectious arthritis, fungal arthritis should be considered in the patient with predisposing factors.

Candida Arthritis after Arthroscopic Arthroplasty in a Patient without Predisposing Factors.

Because candidiasis is usually associated with immunosuppression, candida arthritis in an immunocompetent patient is rare. The symptoms of candidiasis are similar to bacterial infections, tuberculosis, and autoimmune diseases. In our patient with no predisposing factors, candida arthritis was initially excluded because the probability of occurrence was low. The patient had no leukocytosis, the acid-fast bacteria (AFB) stain was negative, and the autoimmune antibody screen was negative. After Candida parapsilosis was cultured in the synovial fluid, the patient was treated with amphotericin B (0.7 mg/kg/day) and oral fluconazole (400 mg/day). The treatment was successful and there were no side effects of the medications.

A Case of Candida Parapsilosis Ankle Arthritis after Intra-articular Steroid Injection / 감염과화학요법

Candida species are uncommon cause of infectious arthritis. The increasing use of potent antibiotics, immunosuppressives, artificial joints, and especially the injection of steroid into the joints predispose to the fungal arthritis. Candida arthritis occurs by hematogenous dissemination or by direct inoculation of fungus into the joint cavity. Fifty three-year-old diabetic patient, who received intra-articular steroid injection into right ankle joint several times, was hospitalized because of aggravating ankle pain and swelling. Candida parapsilosis was isolated from the joint aspiration fluid and MRI findings were compatible with septic arthritis with osteomyelitis of distal tibia, distal fibula, talus, and calcaneus. The patient was successfully treated with 3 weeks of amphotericin B and 7 months of oral fluconazole. We report this case with review of pertinent literatures, emphasizing a high index of suspicion for the fungal infection in patients with predisposing risk factors.

A Case of Candida Parapsilosis Ankle Arthritis after Intra-articular Steroid Injection / 감염과화학요법

Candida species are uncommon cause of infectious arthritis. The increasing use of potent antibiotics, immunosuppressives, artificial joints, and especially the injection of steroid into the joints predispose to the fungal arthritis. Candida arthritis occurs by hematogenous dissemination or by direct inoculation of fungus into the joint cavity. Fifty three-year-old diabetic patient, who received intra-articular steroid injection into right ankle joint several times, was hospitalized because of aggravating ankle pain and swelling. Candida parapsilosis was isolated from the joint aspiration fluid and MRI findings were compatible with septic arthritis with osteomyelitis of distal tibia, distal fibula, talus, and calcaneus. The patient was successfully treated with 3 weeks of amphotericin B and 7 months of oral fluconazole. We report this case with review of pertinent literatures, emphasizing a high index of suspicion for the fungal infection in patients with predisposing risk factors.

A Case of Candida Arthritis in Chronic Tophaceous Gout / 대한내과학회지

Candida arthritis is a rare joint infection. Its predisposing factors include prosthetic joint, intraarticular injection of corticosteroid and immunosuppression. Clinical diagnosis may be difficult because of the absence of specific signs and symptoms. Hence the presence of Candida species in synovial fluid should never be interpreted as laboratory contamination in patients with a risk factor, and therapy should be initiated promptly. We experienced a case of Candida arithritis secondary to repeated intraarticular corticosteroid injection in chronic tophaceous gout. We report the case with review of relevant literature.