Diagnosis of Culture-Negative Septic Arthritis with Polymerase Chain Reaction in an Immunosuppressed Patient

• DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.cc.20.00057
• Publication Date: 2020-07-16T14:15:40Z
• Authors: Zachariah G. Whiting; Teresa Doerre
• Keywords: Debridement (dental); Antibiotic Therapy; Immunosuppression

Case: We present a 23-year-old woman on immunosuppressive therapy with polyarticular, culture-negative septic arthritis. She underwent irrigation and debridement empiric antibiotic but had recurrence of arthritis despite treatment. Polymerase chain reaction testing eventually identified Ureaplasma as the causative organism. was successfully treated an extended course organism-specific antibiotics. Conclusion: More patients are being immune modulating therapies. Immunosuppressed at risk for atypical infections may have different presentations than immunocompetent patients. Newer diagnostic modalities can help identify organisms direct treatment in case negative cultures.