Glenohumeral Joint Sepsis Caused by Streptococcus mitis: A Case Report

Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2016 Sep/Oct;45(6):E343-E346.

Abstract

Septic arthritis of the shoulder girdle remains relatively uncommon, with Staphylococcus aureus and β-hemolytic streptococci the typical offending organisms in adult patients. Rare cases of Streptococcus viridans, an oral bacterium with low virulence, have been reported in the setting of septic arthritis, mostly involving the knee joint or the sternoclavicular joint. In this article, we report a case of Streptococcus mitis infection of the glenohumeral joint that likely resulted from hematogenous spread after oral trauma in a patient with poor underlying dentition. Prompt diagnosis followed by arthroscopic irrigation and débridement of the glenohumeral joint resulted in a satisfactory clinical outcome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arthritis, Infectious / diagnostic imaging
  • Arthritis, Infectious / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Infectious / microbiology
  • Arthritis, Infectious / surgery*
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder*
  • Debridement
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Shoulder Joint / microbiology
  • Shoulder Joint / surgery*
  • Streptococcal Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Streptococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Streptococcal Infections / surgery*
  • Streptococcus mitis / isolation & purification*
  • Therapeutic Irrigation
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents