The American journal of the medical sciences
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We are presenting a case of a 19-year-old college student with sudden-onset, asymmetric polyarticular arthritis with Neisseria meningitidis 10 days after an acute upper respiratory infection consisting of fevers, chills, pharyngitis, and productive cough. Primary meningococcal septic arthritis is a rare entity. ⋯ This entity, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of septic arthritis of large joints, especially since N. meningitiditis does not grow well on routine culture media. A literature review on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of primary meningococcal septic arthritis is presented.