ABSTRACT

Septic arthritis is an inflammation of the synovial membrane and synovial fluid in the joints caused by bacterial, viral or fungal agents. Since it has high morbidity rate, requires urgent intervention. The synovial membrane is a highly vascular structure, but because it is not a protective basement membrane, the microorganisms that come through the bloodstream can easily settle here. For this reason, it should be kept in mind that an infection such as septic arthritis may develop in a hematogenous way in patients exposed to many invasive procedures, and having long-term catheter in pediatric intensive care unit. Serratia species are a gram-negative facultative anaerobic population of the Enterobacteriaceae group and have become more common in recent years as a cause of hospital-acquired bacteremia, pneumonia and urinary tract infections in intensive care units. However, primary joint infections secondary to infection with Serratia marcescens are extremely rare. Almost all cases were seen in trauma patients, immunocompromised patients, in those with central catheters and intensive care patients. When septic arthritis due to Serratia marcescens is not treated urgently, septicemia and mortality risk is high and may cause permanent destruction of the joint. Here, we present a rare case of septic arthritis caused by Serratia marrascens after a bacteremia in a patient with Escobar variant of Multiple Pterygium syndrome who had a central vascular access device and was hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Keywords: Hematogen, septic arthritis, synovial fluid, osteomyelitis