A Rare Case of Septic Knee Arthritis Caused by Clostridium perfringens in a Patient With Colostomy

Abstract

Septic arthritis of the knee is commonly caused by aerobic organisms. Rarely, it can be caused by Clostridium perfringens , usually due to penetrating trauma. This is a rare case of C. perfringens septic arthritis in a patient with colostomy due to hematogenous spread. The patient was treated successfully with a synovectomy and a prolonged intravenous antibiotic course. The case report summarizes the existing literature on the topic and discusses the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of such cases as well.