BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to know the clinical characteristics of osteoarticular infection by Salmonella non typhi (SNT) in Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 14 patients with osteoarticular infection by SNT from January 1970 to December 1992 were reviewed. RESULTS: Over the above mentioned 23 years, 1334 patients had been diagnosed with one or more SNT isolations, with 14 (1%) having osteoarticular infection. Seven patients had septic arthritis, 3 osteomyelitis and 4 mixed infection (arthritis and osteomyelitis). Thirteen patients (93%) presented with underlying systemic disease (immunosuppression 12 cases [86%] and hemoglobinopathy 1 case [7%]) and 5 (36%) had predisposing osteoarticular disease. The most commonly affected joint was the knee (9.58%). Involvement was monoarticular in 8 episodes (73%). Out of the 7 cases with osteomyelitis, 4 (57%) were secondary to an articular foci and 3 (43%) were of hematogenic origin. The femur (4 cases, 44%) and the tibia (4 cases, 44%) were the most frequent localizations. On nine occasions (64%) the cultures remained positive 7 days after initiation of antibiotic treatment. Only one patient died as a consequence of the articular infection. CONCLUSIONS: Osteoarticular infection by Salmonella non typhi should take the existence of immune disorders into account.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to know the clinical characteristics of osteoarticular infection by Salmonella non typhi (SNT) in Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 14 patients with osteoarticular infection by SNT from January 1970 to December 1992 were reviewed. RESULTS: Over the above mentioned 23 years, 1334 patients had been diagnosed with one or more SNT isolations, with 14 (1%) having osteoarticular infection. Seven patients had septic arthritis, 3 osteomyelitis and 4 mixed infection (arthritis and osteomyelitis). Thirteen patients (93%) presented with underlying systemic disease (immunosuppression 12 cases [86%] and hemoglobinopathy 1 case [7%]) and 5 (36%) had predisposing osteoarticular disease. The most commonly affected joint was the knee (9.58%). Involvement was monoarticular in 8 episodes (73%). Out of the 7 cases with osteomyelitis, 4 (57%) were secondary to an articular foci and 3 (43%) were of hematogenic origin. The femur (4 cases, 44%) and the tibia (4 cases, 44%) were the most frequent localizations. On nine occasions (64%) the cultures remained positive 7 days after initiation of antibiotic treatment. Only one patient died as a consequence of the articular infection. CONCLUSIONS:Osteoarticular infection by Salmonella non typhi should take the existence of immune disorders into account.