SEPTIC POLYARTHRITIS CAUSED BY STAPHYLOCOCCUSAUREUS POSSIBLY FOLLOWED BY REACTIVE ARTHRITIS

SUMMARY Three HLA-B27 positive patients with staphylococcal polyarthritis are reported. After sixweeks of treatment with antibiotics, the bacterial infection was eradicated. However, clinical and laboratorysigns suggestive of reactive arthritis developed during the convalescence period. The patient became sub-febrile, with persistent arthralgias and elevated total level of circulating immune comple xes and erythro-cyte sedimentation rate. Further treatment consisted of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs alone, withgood response and complete recovery in several months. These observations require additional investiga-tions, however, similar experience in the future may reduce too long and unnecessary antibiotic therapy