Moraxella nonliquefaciens septic arthritis in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient a case report and review of the literature

Moraxella catarrhalis Septic Arthritis Unveils Undiagnosed Systemic Lupus Erythematous in a Pediatric Patient

Septic arthritis is uncommon in pediatric patients, who are less likely to have major risk factors such as underlying joint disease or prosthetic joints. It only rarely affects the elbow and is usually caused by Gram-positive cocci, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most common bacterial organism. We present the case of a 15-year-old previously healthy female who experienced new-onset monoarticular nontraumatic elbow pain and was found to have a synovial effusion growing from Moraxella catarrhalis. The atypical clinical presentation, coupled with the growth of an unusual organism, raised concern for an underlying immunocompromising or inflammatory joint disorder. Further laboratory workup ultimately revealed a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which more commonly presents with arthralgias that are polyarticular, symmetric, and migratory. This case report should encourage clinicians to maintain a high degree of suspicion for underlying joint disease when septic arthritis presents atypically.

Bacteremia and polyarticular septic arthritis secondary to Moraxella bovis in a pregnant patient with HIV who injects drugs

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a rare case of Moraxella bovis bacteremia and polyarticular septic arthritis in a 37-year-old pregnant woman with HIV who injects drugs. Two sets of blood cultures obtained 5 hours apart were positive for gram-negative bacilli, and purulent fluid was present intra-operatively from both her left knee and her right third MCP joints.

DIAGNOSIS

Organism identification using ligation sequencing confirmed both her blood culture and synovial tissue isolates as M. bovis. Her infection was initially treated with third-generation cephalosporins and later changed to moxifloxacin because of a drug reaction; although she defervesced clinically with improvement in her C-reactive protein levels, she died most likely as a result of a non-traumatic fat embolism after an elective cesarean delivery.

DISCUSSION

In contrast to Moraxella catarrhalis, other Moraxella species are rarely associated with disease in human hosts. M. bovis is classically associated with infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis in cattle; interestingly, our patient denied significant animal exposure. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case describing infection secondary to M. bovis in an adult host.

Moraxella nonliquefaciens septic arthritis in an immunocompetent child: A case report

A 2-year-old, previously healthy, male presented with an insidious history of intermittent left knee pain and edema who had been evaluated in the emergency department on multiple occasions with unremarkable imaging and normal laboratory results. On the day of presentation, he had mild edema of the left knee and inability to bear weight. Synovial fluid analysis showed an elevated white cell count with neutrophil predominance and mildly elevated inflammatory markers, consistent with septic arthritis. He underwent knee arthrotomy with irrigation and debridement and was initiated on broad spectrum antibiotics. Cultures were negative, polymerase chain reaction for MRSA and Kingella kingae were negative. He was started on a fifth-generation cephalosporin with resolution of symptoms, marked clinical improvement and normalization of inflammatory markers. The identification of the etiologic agent was possible due to detection of bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplification by PCR for Moraxella nonliquefaciens in the synovial fluid. He completed a course of 3 weeks of parenteral antibiotics at home with full recovery.

Expression and pathogenesis of VCAM-1 and VLA-4 cytokines in multiple myeloma

Objective

The objective of this study is to investigate the expression of Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and very late appearing antigen-4 (VLA-4) cytokines in MM (multiple Myeloma).

Method

Forty patients with MM are selected as the experimental group and 30 healthy persons as the control group. Flow cytometry is used to detect the expression of VCAM-1 (CD106), VLA-4 (CD49d), CD38 and CD138 antigens in experimental group and control group. ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is used to detect the concentration of VCAM-1 in serum of experimental group and control group. RT-PCR is used to detect the expression of VCAM-1.

Results

The positive rate and antigen expression rate of VACM-1 antigen in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There were statistical differences of VLA-4 and VCAM-1 antigens between the initial diagnosis group and the relapse/refractory group, and between the relapse/refractory group and the platform stage group (P < 0.05). There were significant differences between VLA-4 antigen and VACM-1 antigen, phase I and phase II, and between phase I and phase III (P < 0.05). The concentration of VCAM-1 and the expression of VCAM-1 mRNA in the experimental group were significantly higher than (P < 0.01). In the different stages of ISS (International Staging System) and different disease groups in the experimental group, the concentration of VCAM-1 and the expression level of VCAM-1 mRNA are significantly different among the three groups of stage I, II and III (P < 0.01). There is a significant difference between the initial diagnosis group, the relapse/refractory group and the platform group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

There are abnormal expressions of adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and VLA-4 in multiple myeloma patients, which are related to ISS staging.