Kingella kingae is most notable for bone and joint infections in which population?

• A. Adults
• B. Elderly
• C. Children
• D. Animals

Answer: (C)

Kingella kingae is most notable for causing bone and joint infections in young children, especially toddlers and preschoolers. This organism commonly colonizes the oropharynx of very young children and is spread through close contact, which helps explain why osteoarticular infections from it are seen more often in that age group and can be a significant concern in daycare settings. In young children, infections like septic arthritis and osteomyelitis may present with milder fever and less dramatic signs, so the organism can be overlooked unless specific testing is done. Modern diagnostics, including PCR on synovial fluid or throat swabs, improve detection because K. kingae is fastidious and may not grow robustly on routine cultures. While it can cause infections in older children, adults, and rarely animals, the population most associated with these bone and joint infections is children.