Streptococcus pneumoniae septic arthritis in adults

Septic arthritis is a rarely reported manifestation of disease due to Strep tococcus pneumoniae. We have reviewed our recent experience of this diseaes e in 14 adult patients. Common features in patients with S, pneumoniae sept ic arthritis included advanced age (median = 63 y), pre-existing joint dise ase (6/14), large joint disease (14/14), polyarthritis (6/14), and associat ed meningitis, pneumonia or both (6/14), Two patients with septic arthritis and meningitis, and another with Down's syndrome and sleep apnoea, died du ring treatment. In the remaining 11 patients, treatment for at least 19 d, predominantly with intravenous benzyl penicillin, plus joint lavage, result ed in cure.