Five cases ofKingella kingae skeletal infection in a French hospital

Five cases ofKingella kingae skeletal infections were diagnosed in children admitted to La Timone Hospital between 1992 and 1997. Patients were between 6 and 31 months old and presented with septic spondylodiskitis, calcaneus osteomyelitis, and hip-joint arthritis. All displayed either an upper respiratory tract infection or eczema during the month prior to their admission. Laboratory findings included an elevated leukocyte count and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Standard radiography was unrevealing, but 99mTc bone scans and magnetic resonance imaging showed significant abnormalities. Isolation ofKingella kingae was achieved in all cases by culture of fluid aspirates using the Bactec blood culture system. This bacterium was sensitive to the most common antibiotics tested, and the outcome was favourable in all cases.