infection of the costosternal joint may cause costochondritis in rare cases. most cases of infectious costochondritis are caused by "actinomyces", "staphylococcus aureus", "candida albicans", and "salmonella". in rare cases, "escherichia coli" can be a cause of infectious costochondritis. there is anecdotal evidence of costochondritic chest pain being associated with vitamin d deficiency in some cases, and multiple anecdotal reports that it could be associated with chest binding, as practiced by some members of the transgender community. some case studies and a case series suggest that the pain and inflammation at the sternocostal joints are a consequence of hypomobility at the costovertebral and/or costotransverse joints.