Review

Authors: Diane Lewis Horowitz, Elena Katzap, Scott Horowitz...

Prompt diagnosis and treatment of infectious arthritis can help prevent significant morbidity and mortality. The acute onset of monoarticular joint pain, erythema, heat, and immobility should raise suspicion of sepsis. Constitutional symptoms such as fever, chills, and rigors are poorly sensitive for septic arthritis. In the absence of peripheral leukopenia or prosthetic joint replacement, synovial fluid white blood cell count in patients with septic arthritis is usually greater than 50,000 per mm3. Isolation of the causative agent through synovial fluid culture is not only definitive but also essential before selecting antibiotic therapy. Synovial fluid analysis is also useful to help distinguish crystal arthropathy from infectious arthritis, although the two occasionally coexist. Almost any microorganism can be pathogenic in septic arthritis; however, septic arthritis is caused by nongonococcal pathogens (most commonly Staphylococcus species) in more than 80 percent of patients. Gram stain results should guide initial antibiotic choice. Vancomycin can be used for gram-positive cocci, ceftriaxone for gram-negative cocci, and ceftazidime for gram-negative rods. If the Gram stain is negative, but there is strong clinical suspicion for bacterial arthritis, treatment with vancomycin plus ceftazidime or an aminoglycoside is appropriate. Evacuation of purulent material with arthrocentesis or surgical methods is necessary. Special consideration should be given to patients with prosthetic joint infection. In this population, the intraarticular cutoff values for infection may be as low as 1,100 white blood cells per mm3 with a neutrophil differential of greater than 64 percent.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Arthritis, Infectious; Blood Cell Count; Diagnosis, Differential; Drainage; Humans; Prosthesis-Related Infections; Risk Factors; Synovial Fluid

PubMed: 21916390
DOI: No ID Found

Authors: Natividad Benito, Juan Carlos Martínez-Pastor, Jaime Lora-Tamayo...

Infection of a native joint, commonly referred to as septic arthritis, is a medical emergency because of the risk of joint destruction and subsequent sequelae. Its diagnosis requires a high level of suspicion. These guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of septic arthritis in children and adults are intended for use by any physician caring for patients with suspected or confirmed septic arthritis. They have been developed by a multidisciplinary panel with representatives from the Bone and Joint Infections Study Group (GEIO) belonging to the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), the Spanish Society of Paediatric Infections (SEIP) and the Spanish Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (SECOT), and two rheumatologists. The recommendations are based on evidence derived from a systematic literature review and, failing that, on the opinion of the experts who prepared these guidelines. A detailed description of the background, methods, summary of evidence, the rationale supporting each recommendation, and gaps in knowledge can be found online in the complete document.

Topics: Humans; Arthritis, Infectious; Child; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents

PubMed: 37919201
DOI: 10.1016/j.eimce.2023.07.007

Review

Authors: Miao He, Djandan Tadum Arthur Vithran, Linyuan Pan...

Acute septic arthritis is on the rise among all patients. Acute septic arthritis must be extensively assessed, identified, and treated to prevent fatal consequences. Antimicrobial therapy administered intravenously has long been considered the gold standard for treating acute osteoarticular infections. According to clinical research, parenteral antibiotics for a few days, followed by oral antibiotics, are safe and effective for treating infections without complications. This article focuses on bringing physicians up-to-date on the most recent findings and discussions about the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of acute septic arthritis. In recent years, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant, particularly aggressive bacterial species has highlighted the need for more research to enhance treatment approaches and develop innovative diagnosis methods and drugs that might combat better in all patients. This article aims to furnish radiologists, orthopaedic surgeons, and other medical practitioners with contemporary insights on the subject matter and foster collaborative efforts to improve patient outcomes. This review represents the initial comprehensive update encompassing patients across all age groups.

Topics: Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Causality; Arthritis, Infectious; Retrospective Studies

PubMed: 37249986
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1193645

Review

Authors: Giovanni Genovese, Chiara Moltrasio, Simone Garcovich...

Pyogenic arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) and acne (PAPA) syndrome is an autosomal dominant autoinflammatory syndrome due to mutations in proline-serine-threonine phosphatase interacting protein 1 (PSTPIP1) gene and presenting with cutaneous and articular manifestations. Other autoinflammatory syndromes caused by mutations in PSTPIP1 gene or characterized by clinical findings overlapping with those found in PAPA syndrome have been recently included in the group of PAPA spectrum disorders. These disorders are PASH (PG, acne and hidradenitis suppurativa [HS]), PAPASH (PASH associated with pyogenic sterile arthritis), PsAPASH (PASH combined with psoriatic arthritis [PsA], PASS (PG, acne, ankylosing spondylitis, with or without HS), PAC (PG, acne and ulcerative colitis [UC]) and PAMI syndrome (PSTPIP1-associated myeloid-related-proteinemia inflammatory syndrome). Except for PAPA and PAMI, no specific pathogenetic mutations have been identified in these syndromes. Dermatologists should be aware that PG, acne and HS may represent cutaneous signs hiding the presence of these rare entities. Systemic corticosteroids, a number of immunosuppressants and biologics, such as interleukin (IL)-1 antagonists and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) α inhibitors, are nowadays therapy for these diseases. A pathogenesis-driven treatment is the near future in the management of these conditions.

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Arthritis, Infectious; Humans; Pyoderma Gangrenosum

PubMed: 32618443
DOI: 10.23736/S0392-0488.20.06629-8

Review

Authors: Lokesh Sharoff, Mark Bowditch, Rhidian Morgan-Jones...

Management of joint infection is an evolving topic. This article reviews the literature on the management of native and prosthetic joint infection and suggests some areas of improvement in short- and long-term management which could lead to better patient outcomes. Surgical management is the mainstay of treatment for native or prosthetic knee infection and aspiration should only be used for diagnostic purposes. A multidisciplinary team approach and compliance with national guidelines, alongside referral networks and pooling of expertise, should be mandatory to improve patient outcomes.

Topics: Humans; Arthritis, Infectious; Knee Joint; Referral and Consultation

PubMed: 38300684
DOI: 10.12968/hmed.2023.0219

Authors: A Gigante, V Coppa, M Marinelli...

OBJECTIVE

Septic arthritis and osteomyelitis are rare in children, but they are difficult to treat and are associated with a high rate of sequelae. This paper addresses the main clinical issues related to septic arthritis and osteomyelitis by means of a systematic review of systematic reviews.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The major electronic databases were searched for systematic reviews/meta-analyses septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. The papers that fulfilled the inclusion/exclusion criteria were selected.

RESULTS

There were four systematic reviews on septic arthritis and four on osteomyelitis. Independent assessment of their methodological quality by two reviewers using AMSTAR 2 indicated that its criteria were not consistently followed.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, these works provide strong evidence regarding a large number of issues including classification, epidemiology and risk factors, causative organisms, clinical presentation, laboratory markers, imaging, diagnostic needle aspiration, antibiotic therapy, surgical therapy, and prognosis. A clinical summary based on the best evidence is supplied.

Topics: Acute Disease; Arthritis, Infectious; Child; Humans; Osteomyelitis

PubMed: 30977881
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201904_17484

Meta-Analysis Review

Authors: Christopher R Carpenter, Jeremiah D Schuur, Worth W Everett...

BACKGROUND

Acutely swollen or painful joints are common complaints in the emergency department (ED). Septic arthritis in adults is a challenging diagnosis, but prompt differentiation of a bacterial etiology is crucial to minimize morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVES

The objective was to perform a systematic review describing the diagnostic characteristics of history, physical examination, and bedside laboratory tests for nongonococcal septic arthritis. A secondary objective was to quantify test and treatment thresholds using derived estimates of sensitivity and specificity, as well as best-evidence diagnostic and treatment risks and anticipated benefits from appropriate therapy.

METHODS

Two electronic search engines (PUBMED and EMBASE) were used in conjunction with a selected bibliography and scientific abstract hand search. Inclusion criteria included adult trials of patients presenting with monoarticular complaints if they reported sufficient detail to reconstruct partial or complete 2 × 2 contingency tables for experimental diagnostic test characteristics using an acceptable criterion standard. Evidence was rated by two investigators using the Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS). When more than one similarly designed trial existed for a diagnostic test, meta-analysis was conducted using a random effects model. Interval likelihood ratios (LRs) were computed when possible. To illustrate one method to quantify theoretical points in the probability of disease whereby clinicians might cease testing altogether and either withhold treatment (test threshold) or initiate definitive therapy in lieu of further diagnostics (treatment threshold), an interactive spreadsheet was designed and sample calculations were provided based on research estimates of diagnostic accuracy, diagnostic risk, and therapeutic risk/benefits.

RESULTS

The prevalence of nongonococcal septic arthritis in ED patients with a single acutely painful joint is approximately 27% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 17% to 38%). With the exception of joint surgery (positive likelihood ratio [+LR] = 6.9) or skin infection overlying a prosthetic joint (+LR = 15.0), history, physical examination, and serum tests do not significantly alter posttest probability. Serum inflammatory markers such as white blood cell (WBC) counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) are not useful acutely. The interval LR for synovial white blood cell (sWBC) counts of 0 × 10(9)-25 × 10(9)/L was 0.33; for 25 × 10(9)-50 × 10(9)/L, 1.06; for 50 × 10(9)-100 × 10(9)/L, 3.59; and exceeding 100 × 10(9)/L, infinity. Synovial lactate may be useful to rule in or rule out the diagnosis of septic arthritis with a +LR ranging from 2.4 to infinity, and negative likelihood ratio (-LR) ranging from 0 to 0.46. Rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of synovial fluid may identify the causative organism within 3 hours. Based on 56% sensitivity and 90% specificity for sWBC counts of >50 × 10(9)/L in conjunction with best-evidence estimates for diagnosis-related risk and treatment-related risk/benefit, the arthrocentesis test threshold is 5%, with a treatment threshold of 39%.

CONCLUSIONS

Recent joint surgery or cellulitis overlying a prosthetic hip or knee were the only findings on history or physical examination that significantly alter the probability of nongonococcal septic arthritis. Extreme values of sWBC (>50 × 10(9)/L) can increase, but not decrease, the probability of septic arthritis. Future ED-based diagnostic trials are needed to evaluate the role of clinical gestalt and the efficacy of nontraditional synovial markers such as lactate.

Topics: Adult; Arthritis, Infectious; Biomarkers; Evidence-Based Practice; Hip Prosthesis; Humans; Knee Prosthesis; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Sensitivity and Specificity; Synovial Fluid

PubMed: 21843213
DOI: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01121.x

Review

Authors: Luca Castellazzi, Marco Mantero, Susanna Esposito...

Acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis are two infections whose frequencies are increasing in pediatric patients. Acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis need to be carefully assessed, diagnosed, and treated to avoid devastating sequelae. Traditionally, the treatment of acute osteoarticular infection in pediatrics was based on prolonged intravenous anti-infective therapy. However, results from clinical trials have suggested that in uncomplicated cases, a short course of a few days of parenteral antibiotics followed by oral therapy is safe and effective. The aim of this review is to provide clinicians an update on recent controversies and advances regarding the management of acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in children. In recent years, the emergence of bacterial species resistant to commonly used antibiotics that are particularly aggressive highlights the necessity for further research to optimize treatment approaches and to develop new molecules able to fight the war against acute osteoarticular infection in pediatric patients.

Topics: Adolescent; Age Factors; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Arthritis, Infectious; Child; Child, Preschool; Combined Modality Therapy; Disease Management; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Osteomyelitis; Treatment Outcome

PubMed: 27258258
DOI: 10.3390/ijms17060855

Review

Authors: Andreas Voss, Christian G Pfeifer, Maximilian Kerschbaum...

PURPOSE

Septic arthritis is a significant complication following arthroscopic surgery, with an estimated overall incidence of less than 1%. Despite the low incidence, an appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic pathway is required to avoid serious long-term consequences, eradicate the infection, and ensure good treatment outcomes. The aim of this current review article is to summarize evidence-based literature regarding diagnostic and therapeutic options of post-operative septic arthritis after arthroscopy.

METHODS

Through a literature review, up-to-date treatment algorithms and therapies have been identified. Additionally, a supportive new algorithm is proposed for diagnosis and treatment of suspected septic arthritis following arthroscopic intervention.

RESULTS

A major challenge in diagnostics is the differentiation of the post-operative status between a non-infected hyperinflammatory joint versus septic arthritis, due to clinical symptoms, (e.g., rubor, calor, or tumor) can appear identical. Therefore, joint puncture for microbiological evaluation, especially for fast leukocyte cell-count diagnostics, is advocated. A cell count of more than 20.000 leukocyte/µl with more than 70% of polymorphonuclear cells is the generally accepted threshold for septic arthritis.

CONCLUSION

The therapy is based on arthroscopic or open surgical debridement for synovectomy and irrigation of the joint, in combination with an adequate antibiotic therapy for 6-12 weeks. Removal of indwelling hardware, such as interference screws for ACL repair or anchors for rotator cuff repair, is recommended in chronic cases.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Topics: Arthritis, Infectious; Arthroscopy; Debridement; Humans; Synovectomy; Therapeutic Irrigation; Treatment Outcome

PubMed: 33755737
DOI: 10.1007/s00167-021-06525-8

Review

Authors: Giovanni Balato, Vincenzo de Matteo, Tiziana Ascione...

BACKGROUND

The septic arthritis of the hip is a complex condition characterized by a variety of clinical presentations, a challenging diagnosis and different surgical treatment options, including arthroscopy, resection arthroplasty and one and two-stage total hip replacement. Each technique reports variable results in terms of infection eradication rate. The aim of this systematic review is to compare the most relevant studies available in current literature and to assess if a better treatment outcome can be predicted based on the microbiology, history, and type of infection (active vs quiescent) of each case.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, including the studies dealing with the treatment of hip septic arthritis in adult patients. Electronic databases, namely the MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, were reviewed using a combination of following keywords "septic arthritis" AND "hip joint" OR "hip" AND "adult".

RESULTS

The total number of patients included in this review was 1236 (45% of which females), for 1238 hips. The most common pathogen isolated was Staphylococcus aureus in its Methicillin-sensitive variant ranging from 2 to 37% of cases. Negative cultures were the second most common finding. It was also differentiated the type of infection of the hip, 809 and 417 patients with active and quiescent hip infection, respectively, were analyzed. Eradication rates for two-stage revision arthroplasty ranged between 85 and 100%, for one-stage approach between 94 and 100%, while for arthroscopic debridement/lavage between 89 and 100%.

CONCLUSION

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common microorganism isolated followed by culture negative infections. Arthroscopic, one and two stage procedures can be effective in the treatment of hip septic arthritis when the indication is consistent with the type of infection retrieved.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV, therapeutic study.

Topics: Arthritis, Infectious; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; Arthroscopy; Debridement; Female; Hip Joint; Humans; Retrospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Treatment Outcome

PubMed: 34856966
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-021-04843-z