Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection predisposes to bacterial
infection at many sites but septic arthritis is notably uncommon. An H
IV seropositive patient who presented with oligoarticular septic arthr
itis due to Salmonella enteritidis and who responded poorly to antibio
tic therapy and repeated aspiration of involved joints is described Un
usual features included the clinical presentation of septic arthritis
in more than one joint, a protracted clinical course with radiological
destruction of the hip, bone marrow suppression induced by cotrimoxaz
ole, and death thought to be due to a gastropathy induced by non-stero
idal anti-inflammatory therapy at a time when the septic arthritis app
eared to have responded to treatment. Cure of Salmonella septic arthri
tis in HIV infected patients may be difficult and require aggressive p
rolonged treatment. Septic arthritis should be considered in the diffe
rential diagnosis in a patient with HIV infection and arthritis.