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Septic arthritis
Bacterial arthritis; Non-gonococcal bacterial arthritis
Septic arthritis is inflammation of a joint due to a bacterial or fungal infection. Septic arthritis that is due to the bacteria that cause gonorrhea has different symptoms and is also called gonococcal arthritis .
Inflammation of a joint
Joint pain can affect one or more joints.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Gonococcal arthritis
Gonococcal arthritis is inflammation of a joint due to a gonorrhea infection.
Causes
Septic arthritis develops when bacteria or other tiny disease-causing organisms (microorganisms) spread through the blood to a joint. It may also occur when the joint is directly infected with a microorganism from an injury or during surgery. Joints that are commonly affected are the knee and hip.
Most cases of acute septic arthritis are caused by Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria .
Acute
Acute means sudden or severe. Acute symptoms appear, change, or worsen rapidly. It is the opposite of chronic.
Chronic septic arthritis (which is less common) is caused by organisms including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Candida albicans .
The following conditions increase your risk for septic arthritis:
- Artificial joint implants
- Bacterial infection somewhere else in your body
- Presence of bacteria in your blood
-
Chronic
illness or disease (such as diabetes,
rheumatoid arthritis
, and sickle cell disease)
Chronic
Chronic refers to something that continues over an extended period of time. A chronic condition is usually long-lasting and does not easily or quick...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleRheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term disease. It leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It can also affect other organs....
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Intravenous (IV) or injection drug use
- Medicines that suppress your immune system
- Recent joint injury
- Recent joint arthroscopy or other surgery
Septic arthritis may be seen at any age. In children, it occurs most often in those younger than 3 years. The hip is often the site of infection in infants. Most cases are caused by the bacteria group B streptococcus. Another common cause is Haemophilus influenza , especially if the child has not been vaccinated for this bacteria.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually come on quickly. There is a fever and joint swelling that is usually in just one joint. There is also intense joint pain , which gets worse with movement.
Joint swelling
Joint swelling is the buildup of fluid in the soft tissue surrounding the joint.
Symptoms in newborns or infants:
- Crying when infected joint is moved (for example, during diaper change)
- Fever
- Not able to move the limb with the infected joint (pseudoparalysis)
- Fussiness
Symptoms in children and adults:
- Not able to move the limb with the infected joint (pseudoparalysis)
- Severe joint pain
- Joint swelling
- Joint redness
- Fever
Chills may occur, but are uncommon.
Exams and Tests
The health care provider will examine the joint and ask about the symptoms.
Tests that may be done include:
-
Aspiration of joint fluid
for cell count, examination of crystals under the microscope, gram stain, and
culture
Aspiration of joint fluid
Synovial fluid analysis is a group of tests that examine joint (synovial) fluid. The tests help diagnose and treat joint-related problems.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleCulture
Joint fluid culture is a laboratory test to detect infection-causing organisms in a sample of fluid surrounding a joint.
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Blood culture
Blood culture
A blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.
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X-ray of affected joint
X-ray of affected joint
This test is an x-ray of a knee, shoulder, hip, wrist, ankle, or other joint.
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Treatment
Antibiotics are used to treat the infection.
Resting, raising the joint above heart level, and using cool compresses may help relieve pain. After the joint starts to heal, exercising it can help speed recovery.
If joint (synovial) fluid builds up quickly due to the infection, a needle may be inserted into the joint often to aspirate the fluid. Severe cases may need surgery to drain the infected joint fluid.
Aspirate
Aspiration means to draw in or out using a sucking motion. It has two meanings:Breathing in a foreign object (sucking food into the airway). A medic...
Outlook (Prognosis)
Recovery is good with prompt antibiotic treatment. If treatment is delayed, permanent joint damage may result.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call for an appointment with your provider if you develop symptoms of septic arthritis.
Prevention
Preventive (prophylactic) antibiotics may be helpful for people at high risk.
References
Cook PP, Siraj DS. Bacterial arthritis. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, et al., eds. Kelly's Textbook of Rheumotology . 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:chap 109.
Krogstad P. Septic arthritis. In: Cherry JD, Harrison GJ, Kaplan SL, Steinbach WJ, Hotez PJ. Feigin and Cherry's Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 56.
Review Date: 5/1/2015
Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
