CLINICAL-FEATURES AND ANTIBIOTIC-TREATMENT OF SEPTIC ARTHRITIS AND OSTEOMYELITIS DUE TO YERSINIA-ENTEROCOLITICA

Yersina enterocolitica bone and joint infections are rare, Over a peri od of 7 months four patients with deep-seated skeletal infections due to Y. enterocolitica were seen at the University Hospital, Nottingham, Sites of infection included the knee (one patient) the hip (one) and the spine (two), None of the patients had major underlying disease or risk factors for developing invasive Y. enterocolitica infection, The organisms were sensitive to the second- and third-generation cephalosp orins, gentamicin and fluoroquinolones, A literature search covering t he period 1970-1994 revealed 20 other cases of skeletal infections due to Y. enterocolitica; there was no uniformity in the choice of antimi crobial agent for treating these infections, Oral ciprofloxacin was us ed as the principal antimicrobial agent in the patients described here and therapeutic success was achieved in three of these patients, Cipr ofloxacin should be considered as first line therapy for invasive infe ctions due to Y. enterocolitica.