Question 1

what is septic arthritis?

Accepted Answer

Infection of joints: Septic arthritis is infection of joints often caused by bacteria. Diagnosis should be made promptly and treatment started immediatlet. Can be confused with gout.

Question 2

what causes septic arthritis?

Accepted Answer

Germs: Infection by viruses, bacteria( such as strep, staph, tb, lyme (borrelia), gonorrhea, syphilis, and funguses.

Question 3

what is it like to have septic arthritis?

Accepted Answer

Septic joints: A septic joint is almost always very swollen, very painful , red and hot. The exception would be a patient who is immuno-compromised as they could have an infection without such severe symptoms

Question 4

what are the chances of septic arthritis recurring?

Accepted Answer

Depends...: If incompletely treated, it can recur.  If adjacent bone is infected it will recur.  And if their is a "foreign body" in your joint, it is more likely to recur. This includes artificial joints!

Question 5

is septic arthritis curable?

Accepted Answer

It is an infection: Basically yes.  It is a bacterial infection so antibiotics are important. The joint is infected it has to be surgically drained as well for the joint to heal.  Often the joint destruction however leaves the joint permanently not working as well as it was before the infection.  The worse the joint was at the time it was drained, the more permanent problems from the joint.

Question 6

how is gout different than septic arthritis?

Accepted Answer

Gout is a disease: Caused by an elevation of uric acid in the bloodstream resulting in an acute arthritic attack.  Septic arthritis is a much more serious problem, an infection within a joint.

Question 7

what are the chances of septic arthritis coming back?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely: Appropriately treated septic arthritis ( both proper antibiotic and length of treatment) should be curative. Unless a new bug has entered the joint it is unlike;ly that it would recur. If the original infection were not totally treated it can return.

Question 8

how can septic arthritis be treated?

Accepted Answer

Surgery: The best way to treat this condition is drainage in a theatre followed by antibiotics

Question 9

what are the tests for septic arthritis?

Accepted Answer

Labs/joint aspirate: Septic arthritis is a serious problem since bacteria destroy joint cartilage. If concerned you should seek medical attention (primary care or orthopaedic surgeon). Blood work can be suggestive of a diagnosis. A joint aspirate analyzed by the lab is usually diagnostic.

Question 10

any long term effect from septic arthritis?

Accepted Answer

Several.: If the diagnosis is delayed by two weeks, structural damage will occur to the joint. To get septic arthritis, one must have another site infected, spreading to the joint with blood flow. Only other ways are from a contiguous infection (bone, skin, etc.) or direct penetration of the joint.  Early DX and effective antibiotic rx is most important!

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