Septic Arthritis

Question 1

What are the possible predisposing risk factors for septic arthritis?

Answer 1

Increasing age
Pre-existing joint disease
Recent joint surgery or infection
Skin or soft tissue infection
IV drug use
Indwelling catheters
Imunnosuppression

Question 2

What is the most common causative organism of septic arthritis?

Answer 2

Staphylococcus aureus

Question 3

How can bacteria directly inoculate a joint?

Answer 3

Trauma
Arthroscopy or other surgery
Intra-articular injection

Question 4

Other than direct inoculation, how can septic arthritis develop?

Answer 4

Haematogenous seeding

Question 5

What type of patients are more likely to get gram negative bacilli septic arthritis?

Answer 5

Immunosuppression
IV drug users
Trauma complications

Question 6

What are four important clinical signs/symptoms associated with acute septic arthritis?

Answer 6

Joint pain
Joint swelling
Warmth
Restricted movement

Question 7

What three key investigations are recommended to diagnose septic arthritis?

Answer 7

Blood cultures
Imaging X-Ray or CT
Joint aspirate for microscopy and culture

Question 8

What is the minimum total duration of antimicrobial therapy recommended for the treatment of septic arthritis?

Answer 8

Parenteral antibiotics for at least 14 days followed by oral therapy for an additional 7-21 days.