Septic arthritis Flashcards
1
Q
What is the definition of septic arthritis?
A
MEDICAL EMERGANCY. Inflammation of a joint due to a bacterial infection
2
Q
How common is septic arthritis?
A
Semi common
3
Q
What is the pathophysiology of septic arthritis?
A
- Knee is affected in >50% of cases
- Common causative organisms: Staph aureus, streptococci, Neisseria gonococcus
- Infection via direct injury, contagious spread from infected periarticular tissue or blood borne infection
4
Q
What are the risk factors/aetiology of septic arthritis?
A
- Pre existing joint disease – esp. rheumatoid arthritis
- Diabetes
- Pneumonia → pneumococcal arthritis
- Immunosuppression
- Chronic renal failure
- Recent joint surgery
- Recent intra-articular steroid injection
- Prosthetic joints
- IV drug abuser
- > 80 years of age
5
Q
What are the signs/symptoms of septic arthritis?
A
- Acute onset
- Single joint normally
- Hot joint
- Painful joint on active and passive movement
- Swollen joint
- Red joint
- Wound inflammation
- Discharge
- Joint effusion
- Loss of function of joint
- Fever/rigors
- Vomiting
- Hypotension
6
Q
What conditions present similarly to septic arthritis?
A
- Other types of arthritis
- Crystal arthropathies
- RA/OA
7
Q
What investigations are required in suspected septic arthritis?
A
- Urgent joint aspiration for synovial microscopy and culture
- FBC
- ESR
- CRP
- Blood cultures
8
Q
What is the surgical treatment for septic arthritis?
A
- Arthrocentesis
* Lavage and debridement
9
Q
What are the pharmacological treatments for septic arthritis?
A
• IV antibiotics – flucloxicillin/vancomycin/cefotaxime
10
Q
What are the non pharmacological treatments for septic arthritis?
A
- Analgesia
* Immobilise joint
