Work

A Case of Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus Septic Arthritis Causing Septic Pulmonary Emboli in a Healthy Young Adult

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Disseminated Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection in healthy adults is uncommon and usually linked to endocarditis, intravenous (IV) drug use, or immunocompromise. I describe a 21-year-old man who presented with acute right hip pain, fever, and difficulty bearing weight. Evaluation revealed right hip septic arthritis complicated by bilateral septic pulmonary emboli (SPE) and right femoral vein thrombosis. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms showed no evidence of endocarditis. Blood and joint cultures grew methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA). He completed six weeks of continuous-infusion intravenous cefazolin with good clinical recovery. This case demonstrates that disseminated MSSA infection with septic emboli can arise in immunocompetent adults without endocarditis and emphasizes the need to consider septic arthritis as a potential primary source.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.98448

Author: Ahmed H Abdelfattah

Institution: University of Kentucky

Language: English

Topic: Orthopedic Infections and Treatments

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4416995885