Streptococcus pneumoniae septic arthritis in adults.

Septic arthritis is a rarely reported manifestation of disease due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. We have reviewed our recent experience of this disease in 14 adult patients. Common features in patients with S. pneumoniae septic arthritis included advanced age (median=63 y), pre-existing joint disease (6/14), large joint disease (14/14), polyarthritis (6/14), and associated meningitis, pneumonia or both (6/14). Two patients with septic arthritis and meningitis, and another with Down's syndrome and sleep apnoea, died during treatment. In the remaining 11 patients, treatment for at least 19 d, predominantly with intravenous benzyl penicillin, plus joint lavage, resulted in cure.