Prepatellar bursitis due to anaerobic Streptococcus

A previously healthy 65-yr-old man developed clinical signs of prepatellar bursitis. Aerobic cultures from fluid aspirated from the inflamed prepatellar bursa were negative. Direct microscopic examination of the fluid showed gram-positive cocci, and anaerobic cultures grew Streptococcus hemalyticus group A. The bacterial etiology of bursitis has recently been emphasized in the literature; in most of our cases Staphylococcus was responsible. Negative cultures were next in frequency. Other microorganisms may indeed be responsible for prepatellar bursitis and should be sought where aerobic cultures are negative.