A rare cause of vertebral osteomyelitis: The first case report of rat-bite fever in Portugal

Abstract

Rat-bite fever is a rarely diagnosed illness caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis. Although this disease is distributed worldwide, there have been few cases reported in Europe. Here, we report a case of vertebral osteomyelitis and sternoclavicular septic arthritis caused by S. moniliformis in a Portuguese patient previously bitten by a rat. Laboratory diagnosis was performed using molecular identification. This is the first case report of rat-bite fever in Portugal. The case described here serves as a reminder for physicians to consider this diagnosis in patients who have developed fever syndromes after being in contact with rodents.