Septic arthritis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in an immunosuppressive patient: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Septic arthritis is a serious medical problem that causes rapidly chronic and irreversible joint damage when diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Although, the bacteria are the most frequent cause of septic arthritis, rarely fungi may be responsible for this disease. We presented here a case of septic arthritis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, developed in a 65 years-old-male patient with diabetes mellitus. The patient admitted to our hospital with complaints of pain, swelling, redness in the right knee and high fever, which are not exceeding despite using vancomycin and ceftriaxone for 18 days. Imipenem was started to the patient in our hospital. At the end of 7 days because of no regression of patient\'s complaints, arthroscopic synovectomy and lavage were performed for the patient\'s right knee. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from the aspiration biopsy specimen that received during the surgical operation and patient was treated with voriconazole, successfully.