Prepatellar Septic Bursitis from Haemophilus influenzae After Penetrating Trauma from Broken Glass

CASE: An 18-year-old male college student presented with persistent right knee pain 1 week after falling onto broken glass. Clindamycin therapy failed, and Emergency Department evaluation revealed knee pain with drainage near the inferior patella. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a prepatellar abscess which was treated with operative irrigation and debridement, and he was discharged on trimethoprim-sulfamethaxol. Cultures grew Haemophilus influenzae, prompting transition to oral amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, which resulted in clinical improvement and sustained resolution at 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the critical role of curiosity and details in exploring a patient's history as well as culture-guided therapy in persistent or atypical infection presentations.