Bone and joint infection with Arizona hinshawii: report of a case and a review of the literature.

The Arizona group of gram-negative enteric microorganisms is closely related to the genus Salmonella. Arizona infection is common in avian and reptilian species. Whereas Arizona intestinal infection has been observed in humans, extraintestinal disease has infrequently been described. A case of a 23-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and sickle cell trait who acquired Arizona hinshawii osteomyelitis and septis arthritis is presented. The patient recovered after treatment with ampicillin and cephalosporins. Three previously described cases of bone and/or joint infection with Arizona are summarized. Because Arizona species frequently ferment lactose, it is possible that they are discarded from fecal isolates by bacteriology laboratories. It is conceivable that many intestinal and extraintestinal infections are either overlooked or mistakenly identified.