Septic and Crystalline Joint Disease

Bacteria and crystals were simultaneously recovered from the synovial fluid of two patients with acutely inflamed joints. The bacteria were initially identified on Gram stain and subsequently grown on supplemented peptone broth, and the crystals were readily identified by polarizing microscopy. Although cause-and-effect relationship between these two types of arthritis cannot be established, the need for thorough examination of synovial fluid is evident.