SYMPTOM CHECKER

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Definition

Septic arthritis is inflammation of a joint due to a bacterial infection other than gonorrhea (joint infection due to gonorrhea has different symptoms).

Alternative Names

Bacterial arthritis; Non-gonococcal bacterial arthritis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Septic arthritis develops when bacteria spread through the bloodstream to a joint. It may also occur when the joint is directly infected with bacteria by an injury or during surgery. The most common sites for this type of infection are the knee and hip.

Most cases of acute septic arthritis are caused by organisms such as staphylococcus or streptococcus.

Chronic septic arthritis (which is less common) is caused by organisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Candida albicans.

The following increase your risk for septic arthritis:

• Artificial joint implants
• Bacterial infection elsewhere in your body
• Chronic illness or disease (such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and sickle cell disease)
• Intravenous (IV) or injection drug use
• Medications that suppress your immune system
• Recent joint trauma
• Recent joint arthroscopy or other surgery

Septic arthritis may be seen at any age. In children, it occurs most often in those younger than 3 years. The hip is a frequent site of infection in infants.

Septic arthritis is uncommon from age 3 to adolescence. Children with septic arthritis are more likely than adults to be infected with group B streptococcus or Haemophilus influenza., if not immunized.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually come on quickly, with joint swelling, intense joint pain, and low-grade fever.

Symptoms in newborns or infants:

• Cries when infected joint is moved (example: diaper change causes crying if hip joint is infected)
• Irritability
• Fever
• Unable to move the limb with the infected joint (pseudoparalysis)

Symptoms in children and adults:

• Inability to move the limb with the infected joint (pseudoparalysis)
• Intense joint pain
• Joint swelling
• Joint redness
• Low-grade fever

Chills may occur, but are uncommon.

Signs and tests

• Blood culture
• Joint fluid analysis and culture
• X-ray of affected joint

Reviewer Info: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., 05/30/2009