Tuberculosis (TB) prevalence is increasing in developed nations and continuing to cause significant mortality in low- and middle-income countries. As a result of the uptick in cases, there also exists an increased prevalence of extrapulmonary TB. TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb). When M. tb disseminates to the vertebral column, it is called Pott’s disease or spinal TB. The frequency, symptoms, and severity of the disease range by the location of the spine and the region of the affected vertebrae. While the current literature shows that timely diagnosis is crucial to reduce the morbidity and mortality from Pott’s disease, there is a lack of specific clinical diagnostic criteria for Pott’s disease, and the symptoms may be very non-specific. Studies have shown that novel molecular diagnostic methods are effective and timely choices. Research has implicated the risk factors for the susceptibility and severity of Pott’s disease, such as HIV and immunosuppression, poverty, and malnutrition. Based on the current literature available, our group aims to summarize the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnostic challenges, as well as the known risk factors for Pott’s disease within this literature review.

Septic arthritis is a synovial fluid and joint tissue infection with significant morbidity and mortality risk if not diagnosed and treated promptly. The most common pathogen to cause septic arthritis is Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram-positive bacterium. Although diagnostic criteria are in place to guide the diagnosis of staphylococcal septic arthritis, there is a lack of adequate sensitivity and specificity. Some patients present with atypical findings which make it difficult to diagnose and treat in time. In this paper, we present the case of a patient with an atypical presentation of recalcitrant staphylococcal septic arthritis in a native hip complicated by uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and tobacco usage. We review current literature on diagnosing S. aureus septic arthritis, novel diagnostic technique performance to guide future research and assist clinical suspicion, and current S. aureus vaccine development for at-risk patients.