Olecranon bursitis caused by infection with Candida lusitaniae

Abstract

We describe a 59-year-old woman with diabetes and chronic asthma treated with prednisone and methotrexate who developed chronic olecranon bursitis caused by Candida lusitaniae. Infection, especially with unusual microbial pathogens, should be considered in cases of chronic bursitis in patients taking immunosuppressive medicine, even if the classic signs of septic bursitis are absent. Infection with C. lusitaniae, a component of the normal mycoflora, may be a marker of serious immunosuppression, as this patient ultimately died of a Pneumocystis carinii infection.