Infections of Joints Flashcards
Three “buckets” for thinking of bacterial joint infection
- Non-gonococcal
- Gonococcal (N. gonorrheae)
- Lyme (B. burgdorferi)
Microbial Arthritis etiology table
Essential Factors of Septic Arthritis
- Acute onset of painful, warm, swollen, usually monoarticular arthritis
- Arthrocentesis of synovial fluid >50,000 WBC / μL and >80% PMN
- Positive synovial fluid culture
- Staphylococcus aureus the most common cause
Epidemiology of septic arthritis
- Higher incidence in children and elderly
- Higher incidence in individuals who already have rheumatoid arthritis
- Higher incidence in prosthetic joints
- High risk for parenteral drug use
- Diabetes mellitus is predisposing
- Immunosuppression (including corticosteroid perscription!)
Sexual activity is a moderate risk factor for septic arthritis. Why?
Because it is associated with risk of gonococcal infection, which may lead to disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI), and this condition very commonly results in septic polyarticular arthritis.
Why is it so easy for bacteria in the blood to reach the synovium?
- The synovial membrane is thin and there is no basement membrane
- The tissue is highly vascularized, and so there are many points of entry
Without treatment, ___ may occur within days of joint infection.
Without treatment, irreversible subchondral bone loss and cartilage destruction may occur within days of joint infection.
Findings of septic arthritis on physical exam
- Obvious joint effusion
- Inflammatory signs
- Pain
- Marked restriction of both passive and active ROM
A patient with an acute monoarticular arthritis should be ___.
A patient with an acute monoarticular arthritis should be considered to have septic arthritis until proven otherwise
__% of cases of septic arthritis involve fever.
60-80% of cases of septic arthritis involve fever.
So, if the patient does not present with fever, septic arthritis cannot be ruled out.
Symptoms which indicate possibility of antecedent infection
- Cough
- GI symptoms
- dysuria
Antecedent infections may be indentified in ___% of cases of septic arthritis.
Antecedent infections may be indentified in 50% of cases of septic arthritis.
Passive motion of the adjacent joint usually does not elicit severe pain unless . . .
Passive motion of the adjacent joint usually does not elicit severe pain unless there is stretching of an inflamed tendon
While synovial fluid analysis is critical for the definitive diagnosis of septic arthritis, . . .
While synovial fluid analysis is critical for the definitive diagnosis of septic arthritis, arthrocentesis is contraindicated if the needle must pass through an area of cellulitis, a skin lesion, or any lesion which may further introduce bacteria into the joint space.
Synovial fluid analysis for suspected septic arthritis
- Appearance: Color and clarity (purulence and turbidity suggest infection)
- Cell count and differential
- Gram stain (positive is diagnostic, negative does not rule out septic arthritis)
- Culture (positive is diagnostic, negative does not rule out septic arthritis)
Table of common nongonococcal septic arthritis etiologies