CC BY 4.0 · Surg J (N Y) 2017; 03(03): e107-e109
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1603970
Case Report
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Cutibacterium acnes Septic Arthritis of the Nonoperated Knee: A Case Report

Kelechi R. Okoroha
1   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
,
Michael D. Gabbard II
1   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
,
Jamal Fitts
2   Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
,
Trevor R. Banka
1   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

14 March 2017

22 May 2017

Publication Date:
05 July 2017 (online)

Abstract

Cutibacterium (Propionibacterium) acnes, a gram-positive bacillus with low pathogenicity, is an uncommon but known cause of prosthetic joint infections, particularly related to shoulder surgery. C. acnes, however, is an extremely rare pathogen in the nonoperated knee joint. This report details an uncommon case of C. acnes septic knee arthritis after multiple intra-articular steroid injections in a 56-year-old male patient. After an indolent presentation and late diagnosis, the patient underwent surgical debridement with IV antibiotic management. This case illustrates that intra-articular corticosteroid injections for the management of osteoarthritis are not without risk. Literature supporting their use remains limited and clinicians should use proficient clinical judgment for appropriate patient selection for these injections. Vigilance following injections or aspirations of the knee should be maintained to identify the indolent clinical presentation of C. acnes septic arthritis.

 
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