Diagnosis and unsuccessful management of iatrogenic fungal septic
arthritis caused by Wickerhamomyces anomalous (formerly Candida
pelliculosa) and concurrent osteochondral lesion
Abstract
Equine septic fungal arthritis is poorly documented in the literature.
There is absence of efficacy and safety data for anti-fungal
medications, highlighting the importance of documenting this case. A
15-year-old Irish sport horse gelding presented moderately lame at the
walk on the left hindlimb 13 days after intra-articular medication of
the left tarso-crural joint with triamcinolone and hyaluronic acid.
Radiography revealed an osteochondral fragment at the distal
intermediate ridge of the tibia and shallow subchondral bone defect on
the medial trochlear ridge. Synoviocentesis yielded a turbid sample with
an elevated total nucleated cell count (49x109cells/L; total neutrophil
count of 62.8%). Arthroscopic lavage of the tarsocrural joint (TCJ) was
performed. Ceftriaxone was administered and systemic antimicrobials
initiated. The fungus Wickerhamomyces anomalus was identified on
culture. The horse was subsequently intensively treated with
antimicrobial and anti-fungal medications, both systemically and
intra-articularly over the following 60 plus days. Multiple subsequent
synovial cultures revealed the persistence of the fungal organism, until
a negative culture on day 55. However, on day 113, a non-weight bearing
lameness at trot was present, and a further positive synovial fungal
culture. Radiographs revealed a lytic lesion at the distal tibia with
marked progression. The horse was euthanised on day 126.