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Conditions
Musculoskeletal conditions
Joint diseases
Arthritis
Septic arthritis

Septic arthritis

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A condition characterized by the inflammation of a joint that is caused by infection, typically a large joint such as the knee or hip.

Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge reviewed this

39 year experience in Internal Medicine

Is a type of:

Arthritis

How long it usually lasts:

Medium-term (lasts weeks to months)

How common it is:

Rare
Preteen
6-13
Very common
Teenager
14-18
Very common
Young adult
19-40
Very common
Middle-aged adult
41-60
Very common

Body locations

Bones

Symptoms

Fever
Joint pains
Joint swelling
Ankle pain
Can't straighten elbow
Load more

Medications

Ratings show how effective doctors think these medications are at treating Septic arthritis
Vancomycin
4.3
12 reviews
Gentamicin
3.6
11 reviews
Clindamycin phosphate
2.9
14 reviews
Clindamycin

Procedures

Ratings show how effective doctors think these procedures are at treating Septic arthritis

Surgery

Joint aspiration
2.4
8 reviews

Tests

C reactive protein
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
WBC count
Blood culture

Risk factors

Personal

Injection drug use

Related questions

A 31-year old asked:

What is septic arthritis?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

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What causes septic arthritis?

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What are the tests for septic arthritis?

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Any long term effect from septic arthritis?

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What are the chances of septic arthritis recurring?

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What is the likelihood of septic arthritis returning?

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A 17-year old female asked about a 26-year old female:

Can somebody plz tell me the symptoms of septic arthritis?

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A 32-year old male asked:

What is the definition or description of: Septic arthritis?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 43-year old asked:

Can you tell me what to expect with someone who has had septic arthritis?

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A 40-year old asked:

How is gout different than septic arthritis?

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A 39-year old asked:

What are the chances of septic arthritis coming back?

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A 34-year old asked:

My husband has septic arthritis. What will they do at the hospital to fix him?

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A 46-year old asked:

Could I have septic arthritis after having knee surgery?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 36-year old asked:

What is the treatment for a finger infection that turned into septic arthritis?

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A 51-year old female asked:

Chances of recurrence of septic arthritis in sternalclavicular joint. 2 surg to clean and debride and 1 surg removing cartilage 5 months IV antibiotic?

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A female asked:

Why is my knee, 3 weeks after surgery for Septic Arthritis, hurt now more then ever? I believe the muscle spasms are causing the pain, but idk. Help!

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A 53-year old female asked about a 56-year old male:

What is.The.Prognosis for a esrd patient with diabetes, and septic arthritis, pneumonia and went into cardiac arrest?

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A 33-year old female asked about a 47-year old male:

Suspected septic arthritis r/foot MRI to confirm uss results. Dye injected and extreme pain in r/foot within 1min of injection is it supposed to hurt?

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A 30-year old female asked about a male:

Mother in home hospice admitted pneumonia copd son admitted for surgery for septic arthritis are the 2 contagious or spread person to person same household?

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A 39-year old female asked:

What is treatment of septic arthritis of knee joint in child aged 5years..no history of chronic disease.best antibiotic?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 33-year old female asked about a 47-year old male:

Marrow oedema and stress reaction on MRI septic arthritis also so doc dx osteomyelitis Is that consistent with dx Can surgery work? amputation a risk?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 33-year old female asked about a 47-year old male:

Suspected septic arthritis r/foot dye put in arm for MRI extreme pain in foot 1min after dye injected why would it cause so much pain in my foot ?

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A 21-year old male asked:

Have red spots on fingers, hurts when touch, no itching though, betamethasone did not help, is it dermatitis septic arthritis or what? Help please

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A member asked:

My knee has been hurting on and off for three days, not from trauma.I just finished antibiotics for strep throat. Does that rule out septic arthritis?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 33-year old female asked about a 47-year old male:

Suspected septic arthritis r/foot swollen red sore pus discharge but bloods show normal crp and wcc. Still possible? USS says yes but doc not sure

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 39-year old asked:

Would septic hip arthritis when i was a baby create any problems for me in the future?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 44-year old asked:

What to do if i had septic hip arthritis when i was a baby, will I have problems in the future?

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A 30-year old asked:

How do you diagnose septic arthristis?

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