| (Septic Arthritis) |
|
| What is it? |
| Painful swelling in an inflamed joint resulting from infection. |
| Any joint may be involved, but larger joints are more commonly affected. |
|
| Causes |
| * Entry into a joint by germs, usually bacteria (streptococci, staphylococci, gonococci, haemophilus or tubercle bacillus) or fungi. Germs gain entry from: |
| * Infection elsewhere in the body, as with gonorrhea or tuberculosis. |
| * Infection next to the joint, as with skin boils, cellulitis or bone infection. |
| * Injury to the joint, including puncture wounds and skin abrasions. |
|
| Signs and Symptoms |
| * Redness, swelling, tenderness and pain ( often throbbing) in the affected joint. Pain sometimes spreads to other joints. It worsens with movement. |
| * Chills and fever (sometimes high). |
|
| Risk Factors |
| * Adults over 60. |
| * Lowering illness. |
| * Sexually transmitted infections. |
| * Diabetes mellitus. |
| * Rheumatoid arthritis. |
| * Use of immunosuppressive drugs. |
| * Joint surgery. |
| * Injections into joints. |
| * Excess alcohol consumption. |
| * Use of mind-altering drugs, especially those that are injected. |
| * Poor hygiene. |
| * Prosthetic artificial joint. |
| * The use of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for other disorders may suppress signs of joint inflammation, delaying diagnosis. |
| |
| Prevention |
| Protect exposed joints, such as the knee during activities involving injury risks. |
| Obtain prompt medical treatment for infections elsewhere in the body. |
|
| Prognosis |
| * Usually curable with early diagnosis and treatment. |
| * Recovery takes weeks or months. Treatment delay may result in a badly damaged joint and loss of movement, requiring eventual joint replacement. |
|
| General Measures |
| * Diagnostic tests may include laboratory studies, such as blood counts, blood culture and culture of fluid from the infected joint and X-rays of affected joints. |
| * Treatment involves antibiotic therapy with close medical monitoring of your progress through frequent cultures of joint fluid. |
| * Hospitalization or complete bed rest for complete rest and intravenous antibiotics. |
| * Surgery to drain fluid or remove foreign material introduced by injury. |
| * Physical therapy after recovery to regain full use of the joint. |
|
| Medications |
| * Antibiotics (often intravenous). Don't discontinue antibiotics until told to do so. Infection may return after symptoms disappear. |
| * Painkillers for a short time to relieve pain. |
|
| Activity |
| * Splints or casts may be necessary to rest the affected joint completely. Movement delays healing. |
| * Range of motion exercises may be started following treatment. |
| * After cure, physical therapy is often necessary to restore joint function. Resume normal activities gradually as symptoms improve. |
|
| Diet |
| No special diet. |
|
| Possible Complication |
| * Misdiagnosis as gout or another non-infectious condition, delaying antibiotic treatment. |
| * Blood poisoning. |
| * Permanent joint damage and or disability. |
