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Emergency: requires immediate attention
Septic arthritis
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed
Emergency: requires immediate attention

Septic arthritis

Contributors: Neil Mendoza MD, Paritosh Prasad MD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

An infection of a joint most frequently caused by bacteria (although fungi, parasites, and mycobacteria may also rarely cause this infection). 

This infection occurs most commonly as a result of hematogenous seeding of the joint in the setting of bacteremia. A joint may be inadvertently inoculated with a pathogen at the time of surgery or trauma. In some patients, a severe soft tissue infection may spread to involve a nearby joint.

Common pathogens responsible for this infection include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus species, gram-negative bacilli, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Risk factors for this infection include old age, diabetes mellitus, recent joint surgery or procedure, skin infection, the presence of a prosthetic joint, or immunosuppression. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis or who abuse intravenous (IV) drugs are also at increased risk for this infection.

Patients present with a swollen, warm, stiff, and painful joint. Fever may be present. The majority of the time, a single joint (usually the knee) is involved. Symptoms develop over 1-2 weeks. If the infection is caused by N gonorrhoeae, patients classically also present with a rash and tenosynovitis. If the infection is due to fungi or mycobacteria, the symptoms may be subtler and may worsen more gradually.

Diagnosis can be made by arthrocentesis. Joint fluid should be sent for analysis including cell count, microscopic analysis for crystals, Gram stain, and bacterial culture. Additional cultures of the joint fluid can be obtained if an atypical pathogen is suspected by history or examination.

Treatment requires drainage of the joint (surgically or by repeated needle aspiration) in combination with antimicrobial therapy.

Related topics: ankle septic arthritis, knee septic arthritis, pediatric hip septic arthritis

Codes

ICD10CM:
M00.80 – Arthritis due to other bacteria, unspecified joint

SNOMEDCT:
396234004 – Infective arthritis

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Last Updated:02/05/2024
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Emergency: requires immediate attention
Patient Information for Septic arthritis
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Emergency: requires immediate attention
Septic arthritis
A medical illustration showing key findings of Septic arthritis : Fever, Joint swelling, Arthralgia, Limited range of motion
Imaging Studies image of Septic arthritis - imageId=6839247. Click to open in gallery.  caption: '<span>Coronal CT view demonstrates  large right hip joint effusion with foci of air and erosion of the  femoral head and acetabulum. Findings are consistent with septic  arthritis with associated osteomyelitis. Note that the femoral head is  dislocated due to the underlying effusion and infection.</span>'
Coronal CT view demonstrates large right hip joint effusion with foci of air and erosion of the femoral head and acetabulum. Findings are consistent with septic arthritis with associated osteomyelitis. Note that the femoral head is dislocated due to the underlying effusion and infection.
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