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Osteoarticular infections due toKingella kingae in children

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Abstract

By the description of two cases of osteoarticular infections due toKingella kingae in two young children we sish to draw the attention of clinicians to invasive infections due to this micro-organism. Since its biological characterization in 1976,K. kingae has been increasingly reported as a human pathogen. Most common presentations are endocarditis, bacteraemia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis and spondylodiscitis. Interestingly, osteorticular involvement is largely predominant in previously healthy children. From the literature, we reviewed 51 cases ofK. kingae bone and joint infections, representing 23 cases of septic arthritis, 17 of osteomyelitis and 11 spondylodiscitis. Of the cases 88% occurred in children below 5 years of age and in all cases only one bone or joint was involved. An underlying disorder could be found in only 4 patients. Since these infections have a favourable outcome with intravenous antibiotic treatment, proper isolation and identification ofK. kingae is essential.

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Lacour, M., Duarte, M., Beutler, A. et al. Osteoarticular infections due toKingella kingae in children. Eur J Pediatr 150, 612–618 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02072618

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