A Thorn in a Haystack: A Rare Case of Septic Arthritis

Pantoea agglomerans is a facultative anaerobe and environmental bacterium that could be a cause of opportunistic human infections, especially in wound infection with plant material. Arthritis or synovitis secondary to penetrating plant thorn injuries is not frequently reported. We present the case of a 35-year old otherwise healthy male with a bramble thorn penetrating injury of the left knee. P. agglomerans was isolated from the synovial fluid. The patient was treated with amoxicillin/clavulanate according to sensitivity testing. This case highlights the importance of precise and thorough medical history, especially for less common presentations, as well as source control.

Automated summary

Pantoea agglomerans is an environmental bacterium that can cause opportunistic human infections, particularly in cases of plant material-related wounds. This case study highlights the importance of precise medical history recording and source control.