[Septic arthritis as an initial manifestation of a bacterial endocarditis].

Septic arthritis due to endocarditis is a rare and life-threatening disease. Endocarditis occurs with an incidence of 30 patients per 1 million citizens/year. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common causative pathogens. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can lead to a severe outcome with a high mortality rate, and embolic complications of the kidney, brain, and spleen are seen in one third of all cases. The diagnosis and treatment of endocarditis is a challenge for all health care providers. We report about a patient who was admitted to our hospital with generalized sepsis of unknown origin.