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

Abstract 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.