Sternoclavicular Septic Arthritis Caused by <i>Parvimonas micra</i> and <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i> Infection with Intra-articular Corticosteroid Administration

Abstract

Sternoclavicular septic arthritis is a rare form of septic arthritis that can lead to fatal complications, such as abscess formation and mediastinitis, in the absence of prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment. A man in his 40s presented with pain in the right sternoclavicular joint area, and after a joint injection of steroids was administered, he was diagnosed with septic sternoclavicular arthritis caused by Parvimonas micra and Fusobacterium nucleatum . Gram staining of a specimen obtained from the abscess formation area led to early suspicion of anaerobic infection, and appropriate antibiotics were administered.

Case Report and Literature Review of Parvimonas micra: Difficult-to-Treat Arthritis in Hiding

“…Regarding the synovial fluid study, five (71.4%, calculated out of seven due to available data) had inflammatory features and four (50%) had chondrocalcinosis. One patient had a history of gout and was the only case in which F. nucleatum was isolated apart from Parvimonas micra [16]. This was the only case with an abscess and, consequently, features of septic fluid.…”

A rare case of empyema caused by septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint, successfully treated with surgical drainage

“…SASCJ is mostly found in patients with underlying diseases such as diabetes, immunosuppression, and rheumatoid arthritis [ 1 ]. Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus species, Escherichia coli , and Pseudomonas are commonly reported causative agents [ 1 ].…”

“…Septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint (SASCJ) is rare and accounts for ~0.5% to 1% of all joint infections [ 1 ]. It can sometimes lead to life-threatening complications, such as osteomyelitis, chest wall abscess, and mediastinitis [ 1 ].…”

“…Septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint (SASCJ) is rare and accounts for ~0.5% to 1% of all joint infections [ 1 ]. It can sometimes lead to life-threatening complications, such as osteomyelitis, chest wall abscess, and mediastinitis [ 1 ]. We present a very rare case of SASCJ, which leads to empyema caused by an extended abscess of the anterior chest wall and is treated with surgical drainage.…”