Pediatr Infect Vaccine.  2022 Dec;29(3):173-178. 10.14776/piv.2022.29.e18.

A Case of Septic Arthritis due to Streptococcus intermedius in a Healthy Child

• Yong SM
• Kim TH
• Jung HJ

• KMID: 2549060
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14776/piv.2022.29.e18

Abstract

Streptococcus intermedius is a small, non-motile, Gram-positive, non-sporeforming, and aerotolerant anaerobic coccus. It is a part of the normal microflora in the oral cavity and upper respiratory, gastrointestinal and female urogenital tracts. It is an opportunistic pathogen that causes serious infections in patients with immunocompromised states or cardiac diseases as a result of trauma or invasive procedures. We describe a case of septic arthritis of the hip caused by S. intermedius in an immunocompetent healthy 7-year-old boy without a history of periodontal disease or invasive procedures. He had hip joint pain three weeks ago, and the fever began on the day of the visit. He had been healthy and had not undergone any invasive procedures recently. Septic arthritis of the hip was indicated in the magnetic resonance imaging of the hip. S. intermedius was identified in the hip joint fluid aspiration and blood culture. He was successfully treated with surgical intervention and antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone followed by amoxicillin for five weeks.

Keyword

Bacteria; Anaerobic; Arthritis; Infectious; Child