A Case report of a <italic>Serratia Marcescens</italic> infective arthritis after a knee arthroscopy

Abstract

Serratia Marcescens infection of the joints is a very rare occurrence with sporadic reports in the English literature. We report a case of S. Marcescens infection in a knee joint after an arthroscopy in a diabetic patient who underwent circumcision in the past (for a tight phimosis and recurrent balanitis). The patient's urinary system was colonised by the pathogen and was spread (possibly haematologically) to a knee joint which recently underwent arthroscopy. We focus on its management and a review of the world literature (in English). Care must be undertaken to ensure that there are no septic foci that may result in joint and bone infection, in any elective orthopaedic procedure. Any clinically suspected joint infection must be treated as septic arthritis until proven otherwise.