[Pneumococcal septic arthritis in a Spanish university hospital (1993- 2003)]. / Artritis neumocócica bacteriémica en un Hospital Universitario de Madrid (1993-2003).

INTRODUCTION: Cases of pneumococcal septic arthritis treated in the Fundación Jiménez Díaz (Madrid, Spain) were reviewed. METHODS: A retrospective record review was conducted for all patients presenting with pneumococcal septic arthritis between January 1993 and August 2003. RESULTS: Four patients out of a total of 267 reviewed had a clinical and microbiological diagnosis of septic arthritis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The most frequent locations were the knee, ankle and tarsus. Three of the four patients had underlying diseases and one patient died. CONCLUSIONS: Pneumococcal septic arthritis, a very rare clinical entity diagnosed by clinical and microbiological findings, should be suspected in patients with underlying disease. Early antibiotic therapy focussed on the most common microorganisms causing septic arthritis is necessary for optimal outcome.

Artritis neumocócica bacteriémica en un Hospital Universitario de Madrid (1993-2003) / Pneumococcal septic arthritis in a Spanish university hospital (1993- 2003)

INTRODUCCIÓN. Revisar los casos de artritis séptica bacteriémica por Streptococcus pneumoniae en la Fundación Jiménez Díaz (Madrid-España). MÉTODOS. Se realizó una revisión retrospectiva de las historias clínicas que presentaron dicha entidad durante el período de enero de 1993 a agosto de 2003. RESULTADOS. Cuatro de 267 pacientes, presentaron el diagnóstico clínico y microbiológico de artritis séptica neumocócica bacteriémica. Las localizaciones más frecuentes fueron rodilla, tobillo y tarso. Tres de los cuatro pacientes presentaron enfermedad de base y uno falleció. CONCLUSIONES. Se describe una entidad clínica muy poco frecuente que debe ser sospechada en pacientes con enfermedad de base, diagnosticarse clínica y microbiológicamente. El tratamiento dirigido a los gérmenes que frecuentemente causan la artritis séptica debe instaurarse precozmente para un mejor pronóstico (AU)

INTRODUCTION. Cases of pneumococcal septic arthritis treated in the Fundación Jiménez Díaz (Madrid, Spain)were reviewed. METHODS. A retrospective record review was conducted for all patients presenting with pneumococcal septic arthritis between January 1993 and August 2003. RESULTS. Four patients out of a total of 267 reviewed hada clinical and microbiological diagnosis of septic arthritis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The most frequent locations were the knee, ankle and tarsus. Three of the four patients had underlying diseases and one patient died. CONCLUSIONS. Pneumococcal septic arthritis, a very rare clinical entity diagnosed by clinical and microbiological findings, should be suspected in patients with underlying disease. Early antibiotic therapy focussed on the most common microorganisms causing septic arthritis is necessary for optimal outcome (AU)