Candida lusitaniae arthritis in an intravenous drug user.

A case of arthritis of the right knee caused by Candida lusitaniae in a 29-year-old intravenous drug abuser is described. The diagnosis was based on the isolation of C. lusitaniae from synovial fluid and was supported by the presence of C. lusitaniae-specific DNA and high levels of (1-3)-beta-d-glucan (122 pg ml-1) in the same specimen. While the isolate was susceptible to amphotericin B and fluconazole in vitro, treatment with amphotericin B was not very effective. The patient achieved complete cure with fluconazole therapy only after undergoing synovectomy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of arthritis caused by C. lusitaniae in an intravenous drug user.