Cheng-Yu Chien a, Chang-Jen Yang b, Chorng-Jang Lay a, Chen-Chi Tsai a
aSection of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
bSection of Orthopedics, Department of Surgery, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
cSchool of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
Abstract
Haemophilus influenzae is part of the normal flora of the upper respiratory tract. Knowledge about the treatment of H. influenzae septic arthritis in patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia is limited. Here, we present a 12-year-old boy with primary hypogammaglobulinemia and H. influenzae septic arthritis in his right knee. Ceftazidime and surgical debridement were not effective. After intravenous immunoglobulin infusion, his knee swelling subsided. The patient was free of symptoms at the 12-month follow-up. Serum immunoglobulin is important for the phagocytosis reaction against H. influenzae. In addition to antibiotics and drainage of purulent material, intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy is indispensible for the adjuvant treatment of H. influenzae septic arthritis in patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia.
Keywords
Haemophilus influenzae; Hypogammaglobulinemia; Septic arthritis
