Profile of infectious sacroiliitis among rheumatology inpatients in Lomé (Togo): A single center experience

Aim of the workTo determine the epidemiological, clinical, bacteriological, and radiological characteristics of infectious sacroiliitis in patients admitted to the Rheumatology Department in Lomé (Togo).Patients and methodsA retrospective study was conducted over 21 years on files of hospital patients admitted for infectious sacroiliitis.ResultsOf the 2995 patients admitted, 359 suffered from infectious arthritis, and 18 cases suffered from infectious sacroiliitis (5%). The mean age at admission of those 18 patients (seven men, eleven women) was 34.22 ± 13.5 years while the mean disease duration was 22.05 ± 41.9 days. The onset was sudden in 14 patients. The sacroiliitis was essentially unilateral (17 patients). The pain which was essentially inflammatory (16 patients), had irradiated in 14 patients. Fever was observed in 16 patients while weight loss was seen in 11. The infectious gate has been found in 15 patients (88.3%) with a post-partum period in five patients (27.8%). Limpness has occurred in 12 patients. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was high in 13 patients with a mean of 78.83 ± 15.21 mm/1st hour. Of the 18 patients, pathogenic agents were isolated in 8 (Staphylococcus aureus: 7 cases, Mycobacterium tuberculosis: 1) and probable infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in another. Pathogenic agents were detected by cytobacteriological examination of vaginal sample in 5, urine in 2, sputum in 1 and psoas puncture in another. The mean antibiotic therapy duration was 3.25 ± 3.1 months. Followed up 6-months later the patients improved well.ConclusionOur series confirmed that infectious sacroiliitis is rare and there is no clinical, bacteriological, and radiological particularity.