Background: Legionella spp. is recognized as a common cause of community acquired pneumonia, with Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 being the most prevalent. At least 70 species are described so far but few are identified in pathogenic conditions. Data on extrapulmonary infections are scarce.
Case presentation: A 73-yar-old male with chronic lymphoid leukemia was hospitalized for an insidious wrist arthritis. Ultrasound of the wrist showed a carpal and radiocarpal fluid effusion with positive Doppler signal. While routine bacterial cultures remained sterile, 16S rRNA PCR identified Legionella anisa. Ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice a day for a period of six weeks improved arthritis with full recovery at the end of the treatment.
Conclusion: Legionella non pneumophila are a rare cause of septic arthritis especially found in immunosuppressed patients and identification of species could help clinician to adapt antibiotherapy.
Keywords: Arthritis; Case report; Legionella non pneumophila.
© 2022. The Author(s).