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Home Anti-Aging Arthritis Infectious (septic) arthritis: Causes, complications, and treatment tips

Infectious arthritis is an infection in a joint, and it may also be referred to as septic arthritis. It typically occurs due to an infection caused by bacteria or a virus that spreads to a joint or the fluid surrounding itthe synovial fluid. Infections usually begin in another area of the body and spread through the bloodstream to the joint, causing it to become infected. Other routes of infection include surgery contamination, open wounds, or injections. These types of infections usually only affect one joint at a time, with larger joints such as the knee, hip, or shoulder seeing the most cases. Infectious arthritis can occur in people of all ages, and especially in those who use intravenous drugs. Here you will learn how to get infectious arthritis, how long it lasts, and septic arthritis criteria for diagnosis.

There are generally two types of infectious arthritis: acute and chronic.

Acute: Caused by bacteria that begins quickly. It accounts for 95 percent of infectious arthritis. It can affect healthy people as well as people at high risk for getting an infection. Cartilage found within joints and required for normal function can become damaged within hours or days. Sometimes, infections of this caliber can occur away from the joints, in areas such as the genital organs or digestive organs, and are reactions to another infection and is called reactive arthritis.

Chronic: Begins gradually over several weeks and accounts for five percent of infectious arthritis and most often affects people who are at high risk. Most commonly infected joints include the knee, shoulder, wrist, hip, elbow, and the joints in the fingers. Most bacterial, fungal and mycobacterial infections affect only one joint or, occasionally, several joints.

The presentation of this condition may vary from case to case, but the following are the most commonly seen signs and symptoms:

Septic arthritis is most commonly caused by bacteria that travels through the blood stream to an area in the body. They are either staphylococcal or streptococcal.

These bacteria may enter a wound or infect the joint directly after injury or surgery. The following things that increase the chances of developing septic arthritis are:

Having one or a combination of these risk factors increases the chances of developing septic arthritis complications.

Existing joint problems: Chronic diseases and conditions that affect the joints, including osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus. Having an artificial joint, previous joint surgery, or a joint injury can also increase risk.

Rheumatoid arthritis medications: These medications tend to suppress the immune system, creating an opportunity for infectious bacteria to invade the body and making the development of septic arthritis more likely. Also, diagnosing septic arthritis in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis is difficult because many of the symptoms and signs are very similar.

Skin fragility: Skin that breaks easily and heals poorly can give bacteria easy access. Skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis increase the risk of septic arthritis. IV drug abusers also have a higher risk.

Weak immune system: Having an immune system that is compromised opens the possibility of becoming infected. This includes individuals with diabetes, kidney and liver problems, and those taking immunosuppressive medications.

Joint trauma: Animal bites, puncture wounds, or cuts over a joint can increase the risk of developing septic arthritis.

Once at the doctors office, they will examine the joint for any visual abnormalities and ask you questions about the symptoms you may be experiencing.

This will only go so far in diagnosing the condition, as lab testing will be needed to find out what kind of bacteria is currently causing the infection and what medication will be the most effective. This is done by arthrocentesisa test frequently used to diagnose this condition and involves inserting a needle into the affected area to take a sample of the synovial fluid. This fluid is then taken to a lab for testing.

The doctor may also take a blood sample, checking the white blood cell counta marker for infection. Imaging testing may also be done to assess the possible joint damage done by the infection and may include an x-ray, MRI, CT scan, or nuclear scan.

The use of antibiotics for infectious arthritis treatment is generally the most common course of action. The identification of the most likely infectious organism will dictate which is the best medication to use to fight off the particular bacteria.

Infections need to be treated promptly and aggressively to prevent osteoarthritis and damage to the joint. This may require the use of IV antibiotics, which are much more effective than their oral variants.

Many people with infectious arthritis will need to have their synovial joint fluid drained. This is done to remove the infected fluid, ease the pain and swelling, and prevent further damage to the joint. Synovial fluid is often drained using arthroscopy and is done by making several small incisions near the affected joint and using a tube to suction out the fluid.

Sometimes doctors us a small needle to remove infected fluid without requiring surgery.

Occasionally, surgery is required to remove any damaged sections of the joint or replace the joint altogether.

Other treatment methods to reduce pain may be used along with treatment for infection, including:

Choosing to not see a doctor when experiencing the symptoms of septic arthritis can be one of the worst decisions a person can make. Losing the function of one of the larger joints on the body is simply just the start, as the infection can spread and lead to fatal consequences. When in doubt, get a doctors opinion to decrease septic arthritis recovery time and improve septic arthritis prognosis.

Related: Arthritis in shoulder blades, joints, and arms: Causes, symptoms, and treatment

Related Reading:

Thumb arthritis & pain: Causes and treatments

Shoulder arthritis exercises: Stretching, rehab, and aerobics

http://www.healthline.com/health/septic-arthritis#overview1 http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/bone,-joint,-and-muscle-disorders/bone-and-joint-infections/infectious-arthritis http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/septic-arthritis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Read more from the original source:
Infectious (septic) arthritis: Causes, complications, and treatment tips - Bel Marra Health

This entry was posted on March 31, 2017 at 3:41 pm and is filed under Arthritis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |