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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffSeptic arthritis is an intensely painful infection in a joint. Bacteria, or less commonly fungi, can spread from other infected areas in your body to a joint. Sometimes bacteria infect only the joint, leaving other areas of your body unharmed.
In septic arthritis, germs infiltrate your joint — usually just one — and damage it, causing severe pain, warmth and swelling. Bacteria most commonly target your knee, though other joints can be affected by septic arthritis, including your ankle, hip, wrist, elbow and shoulder.
Young children and older adults are most likely to develop septic arthritis. If treated within a week after symptoms first appear, most people make a complete recovery.
- George HO, et al. Bacterial arthritis. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202388075-9/0/1807/746.html?tocnode=55734150&fromURL=746.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10099-3_3613. Accessed May 30, 2010.
- Garcia-De LaTorre I, et al. Gonococcal and nongonococcal arthritis. Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. 2009;35:63.
- Zinc BJ, et al. Bone and joint infections. In: Marx JA, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo.:Mosby;2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00134-1--s0180&uniq=202388075&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&sid=1002434146#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00134-1--s0110%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-0-323-05472-0. Accessed May 30, 2010.
- Ohl CA. Infectious arthritis of native joints. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Bennett, & Dolin: Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00102-8&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00102-8--s0015&uniq=202388075&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&sid=1002438834. Accessed May 30, 2010.
- Goldenberg DL. Septic arthritis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 30, 2010.
- Krogstad P. Bacterial arthritis: Clinical features and diagnosis in infants and children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 30, 2010.
- Steckelberg JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 3, 2010.
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