ARTHRITIS, INFECTIOUS

SYMPTOMS

Infectious arthritis commonly causes extreme pain and discomfort and trouble using the affected joint. The joint could be swollen, red and warm, and you may have a fever.

Symptoms of infectious arthritis may include the following:

• Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Joint tenderness
• Joint swelling
• Joint redness
• Joint warmth
• Joint stiffness
• Loss of range of motion
• Limping
• Joint deformity
• Loss of joint function
• Fever

DIAGNOSIS

These tests regularly help diagnose infectious arthritis:

• Joint fluid analysis to examine color, volume, consistency and cell count
• Blood tests to tell whether there is infection in the blood
• Imaging tests such as x-rays and others to check whether there is joint damage

Culture and sensitivity testing of the joint fluid may be done to check for antibiotic susceptibility.

TREATMENT

Doctors depend on joint drainage and antibiotic medications to treat infectious arthritis.

Joint drainage means removing the infected joint fluid with a needle or a procedure known as an arthroscopy. In some cases, open surgery may be needed.

Antibiotics may be injected which can later on be shifted to oral ones. Treatment may typically last for two to six weeks. The antibiotics to be used may include broad spectrum antibiotics such as penicillins and may include antibiotics for gram negative organisms or those that cover anaerobic organisms. Culture and sensitivity testing of the joint fluid may be done to test for susceptible antibiotics that should be given.