Arthritis More Arthritis Types & Related Conditions Septic Arthritis Caused by an Infection That Travels to a Joint By Carol Eustice facebook Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Learn about our editorial process Carol Eustice Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Grant Hughes, MD on February 16, 2020 linkedin Grant Hughes, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist. He is an associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the head of rheumatology at Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board Grant Hughes, MD Updated on February 16, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Risk Factors Prevalence Septic arthritis is an infection in a joint. The infection can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. Joint infection caused by fungi or parasites is much less common than that caused by bacteria or viruses. Typically, septic arthritis affects a single large joint, such as the knee or hip, but it is possible for several joints to be infected. Septic arthritis is also referred to as infectious arthritis. Septic arthritis is considered a medical emergency because of the serious damage that can occur to bone and cartilage. Septic arthritis can cause septic shock, which can be fatal. Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / Getty Images Causes The infection can originate anywhere in the body. The infection may also begin as the result of an open wound, surgery, or unsterile injection. Whatever the initial source of infection, septic arthritis occurs when the infective organism gets into the joint. Symptoms Signs and symptoms associated with septic arthritis include: FeverChillsSevere pain in the affected jointSwelling of the affected joint (joint effusion)Warmth near the affected jointNausea Diagnosis After considering your medical history and physical examination, certain tests will be ordered by your doctor. The tests used to diagnose septic arthritis include: Blood tests to identify elevated white cell count and bacteriaX-rays or other imaging studies to assess joint damageArthrocentesis to analyze synovial (joint) fluid for several parameters that could indicate infection Treatment For bacterial septic arthritis, it is necessary to identify the specific bacteria that is causing the infection. Once the bacteria is identified, the appropriate antibiotic can begin. Antibiotics, used to kill the bacteria, are usually taken for 4 to 6 weeks, orally or intravenously — however, new research suggests a shorter duration of antibiotics of two weeks may be just as effective. It may also be necessary to drain the infected joint space, either by arthrocentesis, surgical irrigation (washing out the joint with sterile solutions), or debridement (removal of decaying tissue). There may be significant joint damage resulting from septic arthritis that eventually leads to joint replacement surgery. Risk Factors Certain factors increase the risk of developing septic arthritis. Those include: Previous joint problems from other types of arthritis, joint surgery, joint injuryA weakened immune system from diseases or from taking immunosuppressant medicationsSkin wounds or open wounds allow bacteria access to the bodyInjectable drug abuse and alcoholism are associated with high infection risk Prevalence Septic arthritis can affect anyone at any age—including infants and children, although it is more common in infants and older adults. In adults, weight-bearing joints (hips, knees, ankles) are most affected. In children, hips are commonly affected. As the population ages, doctors are seeing more patients with septic arthritis. Points of Interest The most common type of bacteria involved in septic arthritis is Staphylococcus aureus, usually referred to as Staph.When viruses attack joints, it is called viral arthritis, and the condition usually resolves on its own. However, sometimes antiviral therapy is required. Joint infection caused by a fungus, known as fungal arthritis, is considered very rare. Remember, seek immediate medical attention if you have signs or symptoms that point to septic arthritis. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with chronic inflammation? An anti-inflammatory diet can help. Our free recipe guide shows you the best foods to fight inflammation. Get yours today! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cedars Sinai. Septic arthritis. Emamifar A, Asmussen Andreasen R, Skaarup Andersen N, Jensen Hansen IM. Septic arthritis and subsequent fatal septic shock caused by infection. BMJ Case Reports. 2015. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-212014 Johns Hopkins Medicine. Septic arthritis. Long B, Koyfman A, Gottlieb M. Evaluation and management of septic arthritis and its mimics in the emergency department. WestJEM. 2019;20(2):331-341. doi:10.5811/westjem.2018.10.40974 Horowitz DL, Katzap E, Horowitz S, Barilla-LaBarca ML. Approach to septic arthritis. American family physician. 2011;84(6):653-60. Gjika E, Beaulieu J, Vakalopoulos K, et al. Two weeks versus four weeks of antibiotic therapy after surgical drainage for native joint bacterial arthritis: a prospective, randomised, non-inferiority trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2019;78(8):1114-1121. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-215116 Long B, Koyfman A, Gottlieb M. Evaluation and management of septic arthritis and its mimics in the emergency department. WestJEM. 2019;20(2):331-341. doi:10.5811/westjem.2018.10.40974 NYU Langone Health. Types of bone & joint infections. Additional Reading Marks M, Marks JL. Viral arthritis. Clin Med. 2016;16(2):129-134. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.16-2-129. PennState Hershey. Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Fungal arthritis. UW Medicine. Orthopaedics and sports medicine. Infectious arthritis. Wu C, Huang C, Weng S, et al. Septic arthritis significantly increased the long-term mortality in geriatric patients. BMC Geriatr. 2017;17(1). doi:10.1186/s12877-017-0561-x