Septic Arthritis Flashcards
1
Q
What is the most common organism to cause septic arthritis overall?
A
Staph aureus
2
Q
What is the most common organism to cause septic arthritis in young adults?
A
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
3
Q
What is the most common location of septic arthritis in adults?
A
Knee
4
Q
What are the presenting features of septic arthritis?
A
*acute, swollen joint
»restricted movement in 80% of patients
»examination findings: warm to touch/fluctuant
*fever: present in the majority of patients
5
Q
What investigations are done in suspected septic arthritis?
A
- Synovial fluid sampling obligatory (before abx given)
- Blood cultures
- joint imaging
6
Q
What is the management of septic arthritis
A
- intravenous antibiotics which cover Gram-positive cocci are indicated. The BNF currently recommends flucloxacillin or clindamycin if penicillin allergic
- antibiotic treatment is normally be given for several weeks (BNF states 6-12 weeks)
- needle aspiration should be used to decompress the joint
- arthroscopic lavage may be required