Septic Arthritis

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• Introduction
• Causes
• Who's at Risk?
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis

Introduction

Septic arthritis is also known as infectious arthritis, and is usually caused by bacteria, or fungus. The condition is an inflammation of a joint that's caused by infection. Typically, septic arthritis affects one large joint in the body, such as the knee or hip. Less frequently, septic arthritis can affect multiple joints.

Causes

Septic arthritis usually is caused by bacteria that spread through the blood stream from another area of the body. It can also be caused by a bacterial infection from an open wound or an opening from a surgical procedure, such as knee surgery.

In adults and children, common bacteria that cause acute septic arthritis include Haemophilus influenza, staphylococcus, and streptococcus. These foreign invaders enter the bloodstream and infect the joint, causing inflammation and pain.

Other infections, such as those caused by viruses and fungi, can also cause arthritis. Viruses include:

• Hepatitis A, B, and C
• Parvovirus B19
• Herpes viruses
• HIV (AIDS virus)
• HTLV-1
• Adenovirus
• Coxsackie viruses
• Mumps

Fungi that can cause arthritis include histoplasma, coccidiomyces, and blastomyces. These infections are usually lslower to develop than bacterial infections.

Who's at Risk?

Young children and elderly adults are most likely to develop septic arthritis. People with open wounds are also at a higher risk for septic arthritis. In addition, people with a weakened immune system and those with pre-existing conditions such as cancer, diabetes, intravenous drug abuse, and immune deficiency disorders have a higher risk of septic arthritis. In addition, previously damaged joints have an increased likelihood of becoming infected.

Symptoms

Symptoms of septic arthritis usually come on rapidly with intense pain, joint swelling, and fever. Septic arthritis symptoms may include:

• Chills
• Fatigue and generalized weakness
• Fever
• Inability to move the limb with the infected joint
• Severe pain in the affected joint, especially with movement
• Swelling (increased fluid within the joint)
• Warmth (the joint is red and warm to touch because of increased blood flow)

Diagnoses

A procedure called arthrocentesis is commonly used to make an accurate diagnosis of septic arthritis. This procedure involves a surgical puncture of the joint to draw a sample of the joint fluid, known as synovial fluid. Normally, this fluid is sterile and acts as a lubricant.