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Septic Arthritis and Osteomyelitis in Finger Caused by Mycoplasma phocimorsus from Brown Bear, Alaska, USA.

Westley BP, Swenson A, Berry-Vo S, Wettin S, Brown DR

Emerging infectious diseases, 2025

Abstract

Mycoplasma phocimorsus is an identified zoonotic agent of musculoskeletal infections. Osteomyelitis developed in a patient after injury sustained while skinning a bear, and he experienced delayed diagnosis after ineffective treatments. Clinicians should use doxycycline or moxifloxacin therapy in treatment-refractory cases with exposure to seals, cats, or bears while awaiting molecular diagnostics results.

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