Polyarticular Septic Arthritis Caused by Haemophilus Influenzae in an Asplenic Patient: A Case Report

Introduction: Prevalence of serious infections from Haemophilus influenzae has diminished over the last few decades because of immunizations against the most virulent serotype. However, over the last few years a handful of septic arthritis cases secondary to H influenzae have been documented. Most o...

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Main Authors: Roberto Desarden, Roya Caloia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: eScholarship Publishing, University of California 2025-01-01
Series:Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
Online Access:https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3vr565mr
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author Roberto Desarden
Roya Caloia
author_facet Roberto Desarden
Roya Caloia
author_sort Roberto Desarden
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Prevalence of serious infections from Haemophilus influenzae has diminished over the last few decades because of immunizations against the most virulent serotype. However, over the last few years a handful of septic arthritis cases secondary to H influenzae have been documented. Most of the cases documented are in the pediatric and unimmunized population. This is a case of polyarticular septic arthritis in a 69-year-old male who presented with syncope and ankle pain. Case report: A 69-year-old male presented to the emergency department after a syncopal event at home and complaining of right ankle pain. He was tachycardic and tachypneic on presentation and had an erythematous painful right ankle and right elbow. Aspiration of both joints produced purulent aspirate that grew H influenzae. Antibiotics were started, and the patient was taken to the operating room for emergent joint lavage. The patient made a full recovery and was discharged home with a peripherally inserted central catheter line for continued intravenous (IV) antibiotics. Conclusion: Our case highlights an atypical presentation for a case of polyarticular septic arthritis caused by H influenzae. We were unable to rule out endocarditis as a source of the bacterial seeding, and the patient improved with IV antibiotics and surgical lavage of the affected joints.
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spelling doaj-art-6d1e15fd9ea64c63a0aee8afea9c7dda2025-02-04T17:35:19ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaClinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine2474-252X2025-01-0191788110.5811/cpcem.20761cpcem-9-78Polyarticular Septic Arthritis Caused by Haemophilus Influenzae in an Asplenic Patient: A Case ReportRoberto Desarden0Roya Caloia1Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Grand Blanc, MichiganHenry Ford Genesys Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Grand Blanc, MichiganIntroduction: Prevalence of serious infections from Haemophilus influenzae has diminished over the last few decades because of immunizations against the most virulent serotype. However, over the last few years a handful of septic arthritis cases secondary to H influenzae have been documented. Most of the cases documented are in the pediatric and unimmunized population. This is a case of polyarticular septic arthritis in a 69-year-old male who presented with syncope and ankle pain. Case report: A 69-year-old male presented to the emergency department after a syncopal event at home and complaining of right ankle pain. He was tachycardic and tachypneic on presentation and had an erythematous painful right ankle and right elbow. Aspiration of both joints produced purulent aspirate that grew H influenzae. Antibiotics were started, and the patient was taken to the operating room for emergent joint lavage. The patient made a full recovery and was discharged home with a peripherally inserted central catheter line for continued intravenous (IV) antibiotics. Conclusion: Our case highlights an atypical presentation for a case of polyarticular septic arthritis caused by H influenzae. We were unable to rule out endocarditis as a source of the bacterial seeding, and the patient improved with IV antibiotics and surgical lavage of the affected joints.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3vr565mr
spellingShingle Roberto Desarden
Roya Caloia
Polyarticular Septic Arthritis Caused by Haemophilus Influenzae in an Asplenic Patient: A Case Report
Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
title Polyarticular Septic Arthritis Caused by Haemophilus Influenzae in an Asplenic Patient: A Case Report
title_full Polyarticular Septic Arthritis Caused by Haemophilus Influenzae in an Asplenic Patient: A Case Report
title_fullStr Polyarticular Septic Arthritis Caused by Haemophilus Influenzae in an Asplenic Patient: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Polyarticular Septic Arthritis Caused by Haemophilus Influenzae in an Asplenic Patient: A Case Report
title_short Polyarticular Septic Arthritis Caused by Haemophilus Influenzae in an Asplenic Patient: A Case Report
title_sort polyarticular septic arthritis caused by haemophilus influenzae in an asplenic patient a case report
url https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3vr565mr
work_keys_str_mv AT robertodesarden polyarticularsepticarthritiscausedbyhaemophilusinfluenzaeinanasplenicpatientacasereport
AT royacaloia polyarticularsepticarthritiscausedbyhaemophilusinfluenzaeinanasplenicpatientacasereport