What is septic arthritis?

4 May 2021

It is an inflammatory process of the joints due to the action of a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection, which can start in another area of the body and spread the germs through the blood to the affected joint, causing intense pain and immobility.

Septic arthritis can also occur as a result of an injury, an accident, a dog bite, or as a side effect of surgery.

Those with a higher incidence of this condition are babies, older adults, and patients who have an artificial joint prosthesis.

The joints usually attacked by this condition are the hip, knee, and shoulder, being important to receive immediate treatment because the infection quickly affects the cartilage and bone tissue, for which it is required to be drained through a surgical procedure, in addition to receiving antibiotics.

Signs and symptoms Septic arthritis

In babies:

High fever.
Irritability.
Cries when you move or touch the affected joint.
Partial or total paralysis of the joint.

In children and adults:

High fever.
Joint suffering from severe pain.
Joint inflammatory process.
Reddened joint.
Partial or total paralysis of the joint.

Potential risks:

Chronic joint diseases such as gout, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Artificial joint prostheses.
Diabetes.
Intravenous drug addiction.
Drugs for rheumatoid arthritis.
Skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
Depressed immune system.
Joint injuries.

Diagnosis and treatment Septic arthritis

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, he or she will perform a physical examination, perform blood and joint fluid tests, and take X-rays, MRI, and computed tomography to observe the damaged joint in detail.

When establishing the diagnosis, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics for the bacteria found and will drain the affected joint, extracting the contaminated synovial fluid through one of the following procedures, depending on the severity of your case:

Needle.
Arthroscopy.
Open surgery.

If it is due to an artificial joint prosthesis, you will have to undergo surgery to remove it and, once the infection has been eradicated, put on a new prosthesis.

Related centers and departments Septic arthritis

Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

cun.es
medlineplus.gov
topdoctors.es
mayoclinic.org
msdmanuals.com
cigna.com
medigraphic.com
Paizano VG, Araya OA, Chacón DMS. Artritis séptica. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2021;6(08):1-9.
Álvarez LA, Soto-Carrasco SR, García LYC. Artritis séptica de la rodilla. AMC. 2018;22(4):609-627.
Calvo A, Parra PKR, Navarrete FF, et al. Artritis séptica en paciente pediátrico. Salud Quintana Roo. 2021;14(45):37-41.
San Lee RL, Salazar HE, Herrera VK. Artroscopia de cadera método diagnóstico y tratamiento de artritis séptica: reporte de caso. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2020;5(10):1-19.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is septic arthritis?

Signs and symptoms Septic arthritis

Diagnosis and treatment Septic arthritis

Related centers and departments Septic arthritis

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Septic arthritis