Destructive polyarthritis secondary to mycobacterium kansasii

A 42‐year‐old patient is reported in whom Mycobacterium kansasii pulmonary infection preceded the development of arthritis secondary to hematogenous spread. Contributing factors included systemic lupus erythematosus and corticosteroid therapy. Further, we present evidence that in M. kansasii infections, pulmonary lesions may precede extrapulmonary disease; hematogenous spread of infection likely represents the route through which joint disease evolves; previous damage to the joint whether from intrinsic disease as in rheumatoid arthritis, or extrinsic disease as in trauma, may be necessary for the development of infectious arthritis; and lastly, dissemination often represents opportunistic infection in patients who are immunologically compromised.