Subacute osteomyelitis due to Staphylococcus caprae in a teenager: A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus caprae ( S. caprae ) is a human commensal bacterium which can be detected in the nose, nails, and skin. It can be responsible for heterogeneous infections such as bacteremia, endocarditis, pneumonia, acute otitis externa, peritonitis, and urinary tract infections. Bone and joint infections due to S. caprae have also been reported, but most of them resulted from the infection of orthopedic devices, especially joint prostheses and internal osteosynthesis devices. Rare cases of primary osteoarticular infections caused by S. caprae have been described, including osteitis, arthritis, or spondylodiscitis.

CASE SUMMARY: We report an unusual case of subacute osteomyelitis in a toe phalanx caused by S. caprae in a 14.5-year-old girl.

CONCLUSION: Subacute S. caprae osteomyelitis is a little-known and probably underestimated community-acquired infectious disease. This microorganism's pathogenicity should be seen as more than a classic nosocomial orthopedic device infection.