Septic arthritis caused by Arcanobacterium haemolyticum with fatal outcome

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is a well-recognised cause of pharyngitis and skin and soft-tissue infections. It is often under-reported in microbiology laboratories probably because diphtheroids are commonly considered as colonizers or contaminants in bacterial cultures. A. haemolyticum usually cause infections in immunocompromised patients. Here, we present a case of septic arthritis in an immunocompetent individual. The purpose of this case report is to create increased awareness of the pathogenic potential of this organism in bone and joint infections.