Left knee septic monoarthritis in a pediatric patient due to shewanella putrefaciens: case report and literature review

TL;DR

A 15-year-old boy developed a rare knee infection from Shewanella putrefaciens after an injury in the field, highlighting the need for awareness of this pathogen.

Contribution

This case report adds to the understanding of Shewanella putrefaciens as a cause of septic arthritis in pediatric patients.

Findings

Shewanella putrefaciens caused septic monoarthritis in a previously healthy adolescent.

The infection followed a sharp-object injury and contact with environmental sources.

Antibiotic resistance patterns emphasize the need for careful treatment strategies.

Abstract

Shewanella putrefaciens is a gram-negative, nonfermenting, oxidase-positive, hydrogen sulfide-producing bacillus and a halophilic bacterium, known for causing unusual infections in humans and often regarded as an opportunistic pathogen. Its diverse symptoms have a significant impact on human health, with 260 documented disorders reported in the literature over the last 40 years, highlighting its potential danger.

We present the case of a previously healthy 15-year-old male patient who sustained a self-inflicted sharp-object injury while working in the field, resulting in secondary septic monoarthritis due to Shewanella putrefaciens.

This case highlights the bacteriological and clinical characteristics, as well as the antibiogram, of Shewanella spp. Given the recent increase in notifications of Shewanella infections, predominantly by S. algae and S. putrefaciens, it is essential to consider these pathogens in patients with a history of contact with bodies of water. Special attention must be paid to their resistance patterns in patient management to prevent the development of intrinsic antimicrobial resistance.