SALMONELLA SEPTIC ARTHRITIS AND OSTEITIS IN A PATIENT WITH DERMATOPOLYMYOSITIS

A case of osteoarthritis due to Salmonella bovis morbificans in a pati ent with dermatopolymyositis is reported. Gastroenteritis and septicem ia are the most common manifestations of infection with nontyphoidal S almonella strains. Extradigestive manifestations occur in 7.4% of Salm onella infections and involve the bones and joints in 10% of cases. Os teomyelitis and discitis are less common than suppurative arthritis or osteoarthritis, which usually affect the knee (as in our patient), th e hip, the shoulder, or the ankle. Salmonella osteoarthritis usually o ccurs in immunocompromised subjects. The prognosis may be better than that of suppurative arthritis due to other pathogens, provided appropr iate antimicrobial therapy is given promptly. The good diffusion in bo ne of third-generation cephalosporins and second-generation quinolones may allow to achieve recovery with shorter treatment durations.