# The Nomadic Bug: A Case Report of Salmonella Septic Arthritis of Sternoclavicular Joint in a Healthy Patient

## TL;DR

A healthy 49-year-old woman developed rare Salmonella septic arthritis in her sternoclavicular joint, followed by mediastinitis and lung empyema, and was successfully treated with antibiotics and aspiration.

## Contribution

This paper presents a rare case of Salmonella-induced septic arthritis in the sternoclavicular joint of a healthy individual, with only two prior similar cases reported.

## Key findings

- Salmonella septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint occurred in a healthy patient without known risk factors.
- Early diagnosis and treatment with aspiration and antibiotics led to successful recovery.
- Radiological imaging confirmed joint collection and bone destruction.

## Abstract

In an otherwise healthy adult, septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint is very uncommon. Usually, individuals with a history of intravenous drug usage or those with impaired immune systems are affected. The usual mode of spread is hematogenous spread or direct spread via neighbouring sources of infection.

We report a rare case of mediastinitis and lung empyema preceded by sternoclavicular septic arthritis in an otherwise healthy 49-year-old woman due to Salmonella sp. Radiological imaging showed left sternoclavicular joint collection with bone destruction. The literature only contained reports of two prior occurrences of sternoclavicular joint septic arthritis caused by Salmonella. If diagnosed early, patients usually respond to medical treatment such as aspiration and antibiotics, as was the case with our patient.