What is Septic Arthritis?

Septic arthritis, also called infectious arthritis, is the spread of infection into the fluid of one or more joints causing inflammation. Inflammation occurs both in the cartilage surface-a form of connective tissue covering your joints, and also the synovial fluid lubricating your joints. This is a condition caused by the invasion of a virus, fungus, or bacteria that usually arises from some other site of the body and disseminates to your joint through the blood. Most people who suffer from septic arthritis have the involvement of large joints, including the hip and knee; however, you can have it in any other joint such as your shoulder or ankle.

Arthritis in medicine refers to any form of joint inflammation. There are several types of arthritis as follows:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Gout

You would think that only the elderly are afflicted with this disease, but anyone of any age can be a victim of a kind of arthritis. Children are more likely to suffer from septic arthritis than adults.

What are the symptoms of septic arthritis?

The following are some of the manifestations and symptoms of septic arthritis:

• You experience tenderness and soreness in your affected joint
• You notice that there is swelling and warmth at your affected joint.
• You feel that you lack the full use of your affected joint.
• You do not want to use or move your affected joint.
• You have fever.

What causes septic arthritis?

An infection, it may be caused by bacteria, fungi, mycobacteria, viruses, or even another pathogen. The infection is usually elsewhere in your body, and finds its way into your joint via your bloodstream. In finer detail, the potential causative organisms are:

Staphylococcus aureus

• Staphylococcus aureus: This bacterium is more commonly known as staph. It is the most common cause of septic arthritis among adults and children.
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: MRSA is one of the types of staph infections that have, in fact, become resistant to some of the antibiotics. All the above being said, it is only important to be made aware about the risk or susceptibility to acquire the above disease - as is with IV drug users, human immunodeficiency virus infection, or diabetes-.
• Groups A and B Streptococci: Streptococci are a genus of bacteria. Older adults as well as patients with chronic diseases, for instance diabetes and cirrhosis are more at the risk of being infected with septic arthritis caused by streptococci
• Neisseria gonorrhoeae: This is the bacterium that causes gonorrhea, which is a sexually transmitted infection. Patients infected by gonorrhea can develop gonococcal arthritis; this is a subset of septic arthritis.
• Neisseria meningitides (meningococcus): This is an organism that causes meningitis, which is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering your brain and spinal cord. Infections from Neisseria meningitides could rarely develop septic arthritis. Most common causative bacteria for septic arthritis?

Although it is caused by bacteria, the most common bacterium that causes septic arthritis in children and adults is Staphylococcus aureus, responsible for around 37% to 56% of all septic arthritis cases.

How is septic arthritis diagnosed?

After assessing your joint, if your doctor suspects you suffer from septic arthritis, they would most likely aspirate synovial fluidfrom your affected joint with a needle. That is aspiration. Next, they'd conduct a laboratory test to check the synovial fluidof your joint. Bacteria in the synovial fluidof your joint confirm the diagnosis of septic arthritis.

What are the tests used to diagnose septic arthritis?

Tests involved in diagnosing septic arthritis

• Aspiration of synovial fluid: Your doctor will introduce a fine needle into the affected joint to aspirate fluid from it. This fluid is analyzed by your doctor for bacteria. Aspiration is referred to this.
• Blood tests: In certain cases, your doctor may need to put you through blood tests. This is to ascertain if your immune body system responds to infection and/or to rule out other potential conditions.
• X-rays: X-rays are your radiographs of bones. With the help of X-rays, you can be diagnosed with widening of joint spaces and bulge in soft tissues.
• Ultrasound: Ultrasound employs sound waves to take pictures inside your body. Ultrasound will let your provider get an improved view of how swollen your joint is and be able to see your joint fluid as he or she aspirates it.
• MRI: MRI or magnetic resonance imaging employs a big magnet, radio waves and a computer to take clear images of your organs and bones. An MRI can help in making an early diagnosis of septic arthritis.

Septic arthritis is treated with the following measures.

• Surgery: Generally, there is a necessity for the removal of the inflamed tissue or surgical debridement that should accompany IV antibiotics.
• Antibiotics: These are always required. Your health care provider will likely begin antibiotics by IV and/or pills.
• Joint fluid aspiration: Your provider might aspirate fluid from your joint by using a small needle. He or she will have to do this several times as you recover.
• Physical therapy: You are likely to need physical therapy to recover the function of your joint as well as to prevent muscle weakness around your joint.
• Prosthetic joint disposal: In case you develop septic arthritis in a prosthetic joint, the likely scenario is that you may be forced to replace your prosthetic joint and are given an implanted spacer composed of antibiotic cement. Your health care provider will remove the prosthetic joint after a number of months.

How long is the treatment for septic arthritis?

The time required to heal from septic arthritis depends on the cause of your infection and general well-being. You may be placed on antibiotics for some weeks. More time will be needed to recover from the inflammation and damage that the infection has caused on your joint, and even the soft tissues around it.

Does septic arthritis heal on its own?

Septic arthritis does not spontaneously remit because it is an infection. The infectious bacterial diseases are treated using antibiotics. If you start to note symptoms and signs of septic arthritis, call your provider immediately or go to the nearest hospital. If untreated, septic arthritis can become very severe and even life threatening.

What puts you at a high risk for septic arthritis?

The risk factors of septic arthritis vary between children and adults. The risk factors in children are as listed below:

• Age: Newborn children are at a higher risk of getting septic arthritis since the immune system is not as powerful.
• Having hemophilia: Children who have hemophilia, an inherited bleeding disorder wherein the person's blood will not clot properly, also stand at a higher risk of developing septic arthritis.
• Weakened immune system: Children whose immune systems have been weakened because of diseases such as sickle cell anemia and HIV are susceptible to septic arthritis.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy suppresses your immune system. Therefore, people suffering from cancer and those who are taking chemotherapy are at higher risks of experiencing septic arthritis.

Adult Risk factors

• Age: Older adults aged more than 80 years risk developing septic arthritis.
• Having rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis: People whose joints are damaged because of rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis are at risk. The incidence of septic arthritis in a year is as high as 70 in 100,000 people in those who have rheumatoid arthritis.
• Having HIV (human immunodeficiency virus): People with the human immunodeficiency virus have a weakened immune system. This makes them prone to infections. Infections may lead to septic arthritis.
• Diabetes: It is pretty evident that a diabetic patient has low levels of immunity. A person with such a high level of blood sugar caused due to diabetes is more prone to infections and, accordingly, septic arthritis. It is susceptible to having septic arthritis because most cases of septic arthritis arise from an infection that occurs elsewhere on or in your body. People who experience skin infections are susceptible.
• Recently underwent joint surgery: The new wound developed through surgery brings about septic arthritis. This is because, during this time, the wound may get infected, and, therefore, the patient becomes susceptible.
• Having an artificial (prosthetic) joint: Infections occur more frequently in prosthetic (artificial) joints as compared to natural ones. Thus, this makes an individual with a prosthetic joint prone to developing septic arthritis.
• Injection drug use: Injection drug use puts you in a higher risk of acquiring septic arthritis because the needle might introduce harmful bacteria and other organisms into your body once it breaks the skin.
• Sexual activities: Sexual activities, especially unprotected sex, may put you at a higher risk of developing septic arthritis from the bacteria causing gonorrhea, an STI. The bacterium is called Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

How to prevent septic arthritis?

While it might not be possible to guard against every case of septic arthritis, some things in your life may pose a risk; hence, the following practices may help you avoid getting this infection:

• Prevent infection of cuts and wounds: If you have a cut or wound in your skin, keep it clean not to have an infection. If you start noticing signs that you could be having an infection, including redness, warmth, and/or pus forming in or surrounding your wound, you should seek a doctor's attention immediately.
• Try to keep your chronic health condition(s) under control: If you have a chronic health condition, like diabetes or AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), try to control your condition as well as you can to stay healthy.
• Practice safe sex: Always practice safe sex; that is whether it is heterosexual sex, anal sex, or oral sex, have the habit of using condoms or dental dam and discuss with your sexual partner about previous partners and STI (sexually transmitted infection) history.
• Do not use illegal drugs: Injection drug use can cause infections. Do not take any medications unless you get them from your doctor.

What is the septic arthritis prognosis?

The prognosis, or outlook, for septic arthritis varies based on several factors such as:

• The type of bacteria or organism that led to your infection.
• The length of time your infection lasts?
• Age and general health.

Not all bacteria are the same strength. For example, MRSA is a more resistant type. The longer the period that passes before septic arthritis, the greater chance that the infected joint will have suffered permanent damage. At the same time, this results in tissue damage of an infected joint to patients who have weakened immunity.

Is there any risk in dying from septic arthritis?

Even with proper treatment, there is a 7% to 15% mortality rate for septic arthritis. If you have the signs or symptoms of septic arthritis, make sure to go to your health care provider or the nearest hospital immediately.

Are complications seen with septic arthritis?

Septic arthritis is a disease that is aggressive. There are some possible complications with septic arthritis:

• Chronic pain.
• Osteomyelitis (inflammation or swelling in the bone).
• Osteonecrosis - bone tissue dies due to a lack of blood flow).
• Leg length isn't equal.
• Sepsis - inflammation of the body.
• Death.

Living With

When should I see my healthcare provider?

If your joint is painful, you have a fever, the joint is very hot, red, or tender, and you can't move it easily, you should see health care right away or go to a hospital. Septic arthritis is a dangerous illness that is caused by bacteria: appropriate antibiotics are the treatment.

Why Choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Septic Arthritis/ Infectious Arthritis Treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced Septic Arthritis/ Infectious Arthritis treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced rheumatologists and infectious disease specialists who provide accurate diagnosis with advanced imaging and microbiological testing, personalized medical care, and both antibiotic therapy and surgical treatment options. Our Rheumatology and Infectious Disease team has decades of experience in successfully treating Infectious Arthritis in Lucknow, India.

To seek an Expert Consultation for Septic Arthritis/ Infectious Arthritis Treatment in Lucknow, India:

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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