A Case of Septic Arthritis in Multiple Joints Due to Bacteroides Fragilis in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

A case of arthritis in multiple joints due to B. fragilis ssp. fragilis is described. The patient was a 55-year-old man badly disabled by rheumatoid arthritis. The patient's immune response to the isolated strain was studied and a significant titre reduction during the course of the disease was observed.

The serum antibodies of the patient crose-reacted with heterologous strains of B. fragilis ssp. fragilis. It is suggested that indirect immunofluorescence tests against a certain number of B. fragilis strains could be performed with serum from a patient in whom an infection with B. fragilis is suspected.

Key Words:

• polyarthritis
• septic
• anaerobic infection
• Bacteroides infection