Bone and joint infections caused by Clostridium perfringens: a case series

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2021 Oct;40(10):2221-2225. doi: 10.1007/s10096-021-04225-2. Epub 2021 Mar 16.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate antimicrobial therapy outcomes of bone and joint infections (BJI) caused by Clostridium perfringens. We investigated remission of symptoms and the absence of relapse or reinfection during follow-up. Among the 8 patients with C. perfringens BJI, the type of infection was early prosthesis infection (n = 2), osteosynthetic device infection (n = 4), and chronic osteomyeletis (n = 2). Clindamycin-rifampicin combination was given in 4 cases and metronidazole in 4 cases. The overall success rate was 87.5%. Among the 7 patients who completed antibiotic treatment, the success rate was 100%. The clindamycin-rifampicin combination appeared to be effective in patients with C. perfringens BJI.

Keywords: Bone infection; Clindamycin-rifampicin; Clostridium perfringens; Metronidazole.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bone Diseases / drug therapy
  • Bone Diseases / microbiology*
  • Clindamycin / therapeutic use
  • Clostridium Infections / drug therapy
  • Clostridium Infections / microbiology*
  • Clostridium perfringens / drug effects
  • Clostridium perfringens / genetics
  • Clostridium perfringens / isolation & purification*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Joint Diseases / drug therapy
  • Joint Diseases / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Clindamycin
  • Rifampin