Author/Authors :
Shivamurthy, V. M Division of Paediatric Rheumatology - BC Children’s Hospital - University of British Columbia, Canada , Gantt, Soren Division of Infectious Diseases - BC Children’s Hospital - University of British Columbia, Canada , Reilly, Christopher Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics - BC Children’s Hospital - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada , Tilley, Peter Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine - BC Children’s Hospital - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada , Guzman, Jaime Division of Paediatric Rheumatology - BC Children’s Hospital - University of British Columbia, Canada , Tucker, Lori Division of Paediatric Rheumatology - BC Children’s Hospital - University of British Columbia, Canada
Abstract :
We report a case of septic arthritis caused by a Bacillus species, B. pumilus, occurring in a healthy child. This organism rarely causes serious infections and has only been described in newborns and immunocompromised individuals or as a skin infection. This child developed an indolent joint swelling after a minor skin injury, and symptoms were initially thought most consistent with chronic arthritis. The case demonstrates that clinicians should consider joint infection in children presenting with acute monoarticular swelling, even without prominent systemic features.
