Clostridium perfringens: an unusual case of septic arthritis.

Anaerobic joint infections may be a more common occurrence than previously reported. A nine-year-old with a septic knee due to Clostridium perfringens following a puncture wound was seen in the emergency department. Diagnosis was established by isolating the organism from an anaerobic synovial fluid culture. The patient was treated successfully with open drainage and parenteral penicillin. This case illustrates the necessity for specifically requesting anaerobic cultures on synovial fluid of patients with acute septic monoarthritis.