Destructive polyarthritis due to a group B streptococcus.

A new case of destructive polyarthritis due to a Group B streptococcus is reported. The patient was a 55-year-old male whose predominantly axial manifestations in the absence of evidence of an infection initially suggested psoriatic arthritis. Although rare, Group B streptococcal arthritis has been reported outside the postpartal and neonatal periods. Monoarthritis with a favorable outcome has been the most common clinical pattern. Several cases of destructive polyarthritis with axial involvement have been reported in which the joint destruction and longer time to diagnosis as compared with monoarticular forms resulted in permanent functional impairment.