Treatment FAQ

what is infectious arthritis & treatment

by Denis Metz IV Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Infectious arthritis is an infection in the joint. The infection comes from a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection that spreads from another part of the body. Symptoms of infectious arthritis include: Intense pain in the joint. Joint redness and swelling.Aug 25, 2016

What is the most serious type of arthritis?

What Type of Arthritis Do You Have?

  • Arthritis and joint pain. ...
  • Osteoarthritis (OA) Osteoarthritis (OA), also called degenerative arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis. ...
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of autoimmune disease in which your body attacks healthy joint tissue.

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What is arthritis and why does it hurt so much?

This swelling overnight in an immobile joint causes the surrounding muscles and tissues to tighten up, which in turn causes pain and stiffness. Another reason is that in inflammatory arthritis, the immune system attacks the synovium or lining of the joint, which causes it to become inflamed and swell.

How to know if you have arthritis?

Symptoms of osteoarthritis may include:

  • Joint pain
  • Stiffness when you wake up or after you’ve been sitting for a while
  • Tenderness -- the area is sore when you touch it
  • Lack of movement -- the joint won’t complete its full range of motion
  • Grating -- you might feel things rubbing together inside the joint
  • Bone spurs -- lumps of bone form around the joint

What foods can treat arthritis?

The 40 Best Foods That Fight Arthritis

  • Cauliflower. Loading your diet with antioxidant-rich foods, like cauliflower, is one of the best ways to prevent joint inflammation and relieve arthritis symptoms if you're already in pain.
  • Ginger. Spicy, metabolism boosting ginger is more than just a great way to flavor your food. ...
  • Lemon. ...
  • Avocado. ...
  • Basil. ...
  • Olive Oil. ...
  • Spinach. ...
  • Celery. ...
  • Black Pepper. ...
  • Peas. ...

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What is the most common causes of infectious arthritis?

Bacterial infection with Staphylococcus aureus (staph) is the most common cause. Staph commonly lives on even healthy skin. Septic arthritis can develop when an infection, such as a skin infection or urinary tract infection, spreads through your bloodstream to a joint.

Can infectious arthritis be cured?

Infectious arthritis caused by a virus usually goes away on its own with no specific treatment and fungal infections are treated with antifungal medication. Joint Drainage. Many people with infectious arthritis need to have their joint fluid drained.

What is the symptoms of infectious arthritis?

What Are the Symptoms of Infectious Arthritis?severe pain that worsens with movement.swelling of the joint.warmth and redness around the joint.a fever.chills.fatigue.weakness.decreased appetite.More items...

How do you get infected arthritis?

You can get septic arthritis if germs get into a joint. This can happen: if you have an injury or accident to a joint, such as a dog bite or a bad cut. if germs from somewhere else in the body spread into the blood and then into a joint.

How long does post infectious arthritis last?

It usually develops after you've had an infection, particularly a sexually transmitted infection or food poisoning. In most cases, it clears up within a few months and causes no long-term problems. Men and women of any age can get it, but it's more common in men, and people aged between 20 and 40.

Is infectious arthritis contagious?

Though the name may be misleading, infectious arthritis is not contagious. However, it can be quite serious. Research shows that illness from septic arthritis occurs in at least one-third of people with the condition.

What happens if septic arthritis is left untreated?

Good to know: It is important to seek medical attention immediately if septic arthritis is suspected, to avoid serious complications. The condition can rapidly cause irreversible bone and joint damage and, left untreated, can be life-threatening. However, with prompt treatment, most people will recover well.

Is septic arthritis an emergency?

Acute nongonococcal septic arthritis is a medical emergency that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore, prompt recognition, rapid and aggressive antimicrobial therapy, and surgical treatment are critical to ensuring a good prognosis.

Is infectious arthritis chronic?

Unlike other types of arthritis, infectious arthritis is usually not a long-term illness. Treated promptly and properly, it is generally a curable form of arthritis. However, without proper treatment, infectious arthritis can result in serious damage to the joints involved and may spread to other parts of the body.

What are the stages of septic arthritis?

Prosthetic joint For those with artificial joint implants, there is a chance of 0.86 to 1.1% of getting infected in a knee joint and 0.3 to 1.7% of getting infected in a hip joint. There are three phases of artificial joint infection: early, delayed and late.

Does septic arthritis require hospitalization?

Overall, the mean length of hospitalization for septic arthritis is 11.5 days. However, outpatient antibiotic therapy in stable patients can significantly reduce hospital stays.

Can septic arthritis spread to other joints?

Infectious arthritis usually affects only one joint. However, it can affect multiple joints in some cases and may spread to other parts of the body...

What other organisms can cause septic arthritis?

Although bacteria usually cause septic arthritis, several types of viruses and fungi can also cause an infection. Rubella, hepatitis B or C, parvov...

When does a person need surgery for septic arthritis?

Treatment for infectious arthritis often involves a combination of antibiotics and joint fluid drainage using either a tube or syringe. In some cas...

What is the cause of arthritis?

What is Infectious Arthritis? Infectious arthritis is joint pain, soreness, stiffness, and swelling caused by an infectious agent such as bacteria, viruses or fungi.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Symptoms of infectious arthritis include: Joint pain and stiffness, typically in the knee, shoulder, ankle, finger, wrist or hip. Warmth and redness around the joint. Fever and shaking chills. Skin rash. Other symptoms vary, depending on the cause. Some more common causes of infectious arthritis include:

What is the disease that causes pain in the joints?

Arthritis typically develops in the later stages of Lyme disease. Gonorrhea. Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that can cause pain in one or more joints or tendons and sometimes a rash and fever. About one-third of people with gonorrhea report joint pain. Staphylococcus Infection.

How to prevent arthritis?

The best way to prevent infectious arthritis varies depending on the type of infection: Staphylococcal arthritis – If you have a staphylococcal infection, antibiotics can be used to prevent this type of arthritis (for example, prior to surgery).

How long does it take for viral arthritis to go away?

However, viral arthritis symptoms usually disappear within days or weeks if the disease causing the problem goes away.

How long does lyme disease last?

How long symptoms last depends on the cause and how soon treatment is started. Symptoms can improve as soon as 24 hours after treatment starts. However, they may continue for weeks or months when related to Lyme disease, many bacterial strains or tuberculosis. If infection damages joints, symptoms may last a lifetime.

What is the best medicine for reactive arthritis?

These medicines include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, methotrexate (Folex, Methotrexate LPF, Rheumatrex) and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine).

What causes arthritis in the body?

Causes of infectious arthritis. Infectious arthritis occurs when bacteria, fungi, or viral bodies enter the space around a joint. A person’s immune system regularly removes these harmful pathogens from the body, but when they enter closed areas, such as a joint, they can multiply rapidly and cause a severe infection.

What is septic arthritis?

Infectious arthritis, also called septic arthritis, involves a sudden, severe infection of a joint. It is a type of inflammatory arthritis that can cause swelling, pain, and tissue damage. Infectious arthritis occurs when bacteria, fungi, or a virus infects a joint, causing inflammation. It can occur suddenly and cause intense pain, fever, ...

What happens if you don't get arthritis treatment?

If a person does not receive early, robust treatment, infectious arthritis may cause. Trusted Source. permanent damage to the tissues and bones in the joint. The effects of this damage on daily life depend on which joint is involved. For example, damage to a knee joint can affect the ability to stand or walk.

How long does it take for a bacterial infection to go away?

If the antibiotics are effective, the symptoms may improve within 48 hours.

How to drain fluid from a joint?

They can do this with a syringe or with a procedure called arthroscopy. This involves inserting a small tube into the affected joint through a small incision.

Can arthritis be self limiting?

Most#N#Trusted Source#N#viral causes of arthritis are self-limiting, meaning that the condition resolves over time. However, doctors may use antiviral medications in some cases, such as in certain instances when the hepatitis C virus is involved.

Can arthritis cause chills?

It can occur suddenly and cause intense pain, fever, and chills. Infectious arthritis usually affects just one joint, but it can spread. As a result, it is essential to diagnose and treat it quickly to prevent joint damage and the spread of infection.

What are the different types of bacteria that cause arthritis?

Bacteria that can cause infectious arthritis include: gonococcus, certain Gram-positive bacteria, certain Gram-negative bacteria, spirochetes, and tuberculosis. Descriptions of these bacteria and the symptoms they produce are listed below.

What is the least common cause of arthritis?

Fungi are the least common cause of infectious arthritis. Arthritis produced by a fungus usually develops very slowly. Types of fungi that can produce arthritis are usually found in soil, bird droppings and certain plants (especially roses).

How do germs get into the body?

Once inside the body, the germs can get into the blood stream. From there they can travel to the person's joints (or any place that is suitable for them to live). Sometimes a bacterium, virus or fungus can enter a person's joint directly through a wound. Most often, only one joint is affected.

What is the condition that affects the shoulders and hips?

The large joints are most often infected especially the shoulders, hips and knees, although other joints can also become involved. Sometimes a condition called erythema nodosum can occur along with an infection.

How many kinds of arthritis are there?

Arthritis means joint inflammation ("arthr-" = joint"; "-itis" = inflammation). There are over 100 kinds of arthritis. How does a person know if he or she has inflammation in a joint or another part of the body? Generally, that area becomes warm, painful, swollen, red and/or stiff.

What are the three types of germs that cause illness?

An infection is an illness that is caused by certain types of germs. There are three major kinds of germs that can cause infections: bacteria, viruses or fungi. Normally, these germs are not found in a person's body. They can live in the air in uncooked food, plants, soil, animals or trash.

How long does joint inflammation last?

Generally, the joint inflammation lasts no more than one to two weeks.

What causes arthritis in the vagina?

Sometimes, reactive arthritis is set off by an infection in the bladder, or in the urethra, which carries urine out of the body . In women, an infection in the vagina can cause the reaction. For both men and women, it can start ...

What is the cause of pain and swelling in the joints?

Most kinds of arthritis cause pain and swelling in your joints. Joints are places where two bones meet, such as your elbow or knee. Infectious arthritis is an infection in the joint. The infection comes from a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection that spreads from another part of the body. Symptoms of infectious arthritis include.

How do you know if you have arthritis?

Symptoms of infectious arthritis include. Intense pain in the joint. Joint redness and swelling. Chills and fever. Inability to move the area with the infected joint. One type of infectious arthritis is reactive arthritis. The reaction is to an infection somewhere else in your body. The joint is usually the knee, ankle, or toe.

Can a woman get arthritis from eating?

For both men and women, it can start with bacteria passed on during sex. Another form of reactive arthritis starts with eating food or handling something that has bacteria on it.

What is septic arthritis?

Infectious arthritis, which is sometimes called septic arthritis or pyogenic arthritis, is a serious infection of the joints characterized by pain, fever, occasional chills, inflammation and swelling in one or more joints, and loss of function in the affected joints. It is considered a medical emergency.

What causes arthritis in children?

In general, infectious arthritis is caused by the spread of a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection through the bloodstream to the joint. The disease agents may enter the joint directly from the outside as a result of an injury or a surgical procedure, or they may be carried to the joint by the blood from infections elsewhere in the body. The specific organisms vary somewhat according to age group. Newborns are most likely to acquire gonococcal infections of the joints from a mother with gonorrhea. Children may also acquire infectious arthritis from a hospital environment, often as a result of catheter placement. The organisms involved are usually either Haemophilus influenzae (in children under two years of age) or Staphylococcus aureus. In older children or adults, the infectious organisms include Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus viridans as well as Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus epidermidis is usually involved in joint infections related to surgery. Sexually active teenagers and adults frequently develop infectious arthritis from Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections. Older adults are often vulnerable to joint infections caused by gram-negative bacilli, including Salmonella and Pseudomonas.

Can arthritis affect the wrist?

Infectious arthritis can occur in any age group, including newborns and children. In adults, it usually affects the wrists or one of the patient's weight-bearing joints-most often the knee-although about 20% of adult patients have symptoms in more than one joint. Multiple joint infection is common in children and typically involves the shoulders, knees, and hips.

Does an infected arthritis patient need to be monitored?

Infectious arthritis requires careful monitoring while the patient is in the hospital. The doctor will drain the joint on a daily basis and remove a small sample of fluid for culture to check the patient's response to the antibiotic.

Can you prevent infectious arthritis?

These include avoidance of self-injected drugs; sexual abstinence or monogamous relationships; and prompt testing and treatment for suspected cases of gonorrhea. Patients receiving corticosteroid injections into the joints for osteoarthritis may want to weigh this treatment method against the increased risk of infectious arthritis.

What is infectious arthritis?

Arthritis is inflammation in a joint. There are many types of arthritis. Infectious arthritis is arthritis caused by a bacterial infection in a joint.

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What is septic arthritis?

Overview. Septic arthritis is a painful infection in a joint that can come from germs that travel through your bloodstream from another part of your body. Septic arthritis can also occur when a penetrating injury, such as an animal bite or trauma, delivers germs directly into the joint. Infants and older adults are most likely to develop septic ...

Why is rheumatoid arthritis more likely to be septic?

People with rheumatoid arthritis have a further increase in risk because of medications they take that can suppress the immune system, making infections more likely to occur. Diagnosing septic arthritis in people with rheumatoid arthritis is difficult because many of the signs and symptoms are similar. Skin fragility.

How long does it take for septic arthritis to show after hip replacement?

If septic arthritis occurs in an artificial joint (prosthetic joint infection), signs and symptoms such as minor pain and swelling may develop months or years after knee replacement or hip replacement surgery.

What are the risk factors for septic arthritis?

Risk factors for septic arthritis include: Existing joint problems. Chronic diseases and conditions that affect your joints — such as osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus — can increase your risk of septic arthritis, as can previous joint surgery and joint injury. Having an artificial joint.

Can artificial joints cause septic arthritis?

People who have artificial joints are also at risk of septic arthritis. Knees are most commonly affected, but septic arthritis also can affect hips, shoulders and other joints. The infection can quickly and severely damage the cartilage and bone within the joint, so prompt treatment is crucial. Treatment involves draining ...

When to see a doctor for artificial joint?

When to see a doctor. See your doctor if you have severe pain in a joint that comes on suddenly. Prompt treatment can help minimize joint damage. If you have an artificial joint, see your doctor if you experience pain while using the joint.

Can a joint be infected with bacteria?

Bacteria can be introduced during joint replacement surgery, or an artificial joint may become infected if germs travel to the joint from a different area of the body through the bloodstream. Taking medications for rheumatoid arthritis.

What is reactive arthritis?

Overview. Reactive arthritis is joint pain and swelling triggered by an infection in another part of your body — most often your intestines, genitals or urinary tract. Reactive arthritis usually targets your knees and the joints of your ankles and feet. Inflammation also can affect your eyes, skin and urethra.

What age is most likely to develop reactive arthritis?

Certain factors increase your risk of reactive arthritis: Age. Reactive arthritis occurs most frequently in adults between the ages of 20 and 40 . Sex. Women and men are equally likely to develop reactive arthritis in response to foodborne infections.

How long does it take for arthritis to go away?

Reactive arthritis isn't common. For most people, signs and symptoms come and go, eventually disappearing within 12 months.

Can arthritis be transmitted sexually?

Numerous bacteria can cause reactive arthritis. Some are transmitted sexually, and others are foodborne. The most common ones include: Chlamydia. Salmonella. Shigella. Yersinia.

Can a sexually transmitted infection cause arthritis?

Make sure your food is stored at proper temperatures and is cooked properly to help you avoid the many foodborne bacteria that can cause reactive arthritis, including salmonella, shigella, yersinia and campylobacter. Some sexually transmitted infections can trigger reactive arthritis. Using condoms might lower your risk.

Is Clostridium difficile contagious?

Clostridium difficile. Reactive arthritis isn't contagious. However, the bacteria that cause it can be transmitted sexually or in contaminated food. Only a few of the people who are exposed to these bacteria develop reactive arthritis.

Can you change your genetic makeup to have reactive arthritis?

Genetic factors appear to play a role in whether you're likely to develop reactive arthritis. Though you can't change your genetic makeup, you can reduce your exposure to the bacteria that may lead to reactive arthritis.

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What Is Infectious Arthritis?

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Shreenidhi Kulkarni
An infection in the joint. Most commonly caused by bacteria. Symptoms include severe pain in the affected joint, swelling, redness, warmth, and fever.
Condition Highlight
Urgent medical attention is usually recommended by healthcare providers
Condition Highlight
Can be dangerous or life threatening if untreated
How common is condition?
Very rare (Fewer than 20,000 cases per year in US)
Is condition treatable?
Treatable by a medical professional
Does diagnosis require lab test or imaging?
Requires lab test or imaging
Time taken for recovery
Can last several days or weeks
Is condition preventable by vaccine?
May be preventable by vaccine
Condition Highlight
More common in males
Condition Image

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Expected Duration

Prevention

  • Infectious arthritis is joint pain, soreness, stiffness, and swelling caused by an infectious agent such as bacteria, viruses or fungi. These infections can enter a joint various ways: 1. After spreading through the bloodstream from another part of the body, such as the lungs during pneumonia 2. Through a nearby wound 3. After surgery, an injection...
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Treatment

  • Symptoms of infectious arthritis include: 1. Joint pain and stiffness, typically in the knee, shoulder, ankle, finger, wrist or hip 2. Warmth and redness around the joint 3. Fever and shaking chills 4. Skin rash Other symptoms vary, depending on the cause. Some more common causes of infectious arthritis include: Lyme Disease Because the tick bite often goes unnoticed and the rash may be overlooked, Lyme disease is not always diagnosed immediat…
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When to Call A Professional

  • If your doctor suspects that your joint symptoms are related to a bacterial infection, he or she probably will remove fluid from the affected joint with a needle and will have it analyzed in a lab. You may have blood and urine tests. If your doctor thinks a sexually transmitted disease may be causing the problem, he or she will do a pelvic examination and urine testing if you are a woman and a swab of the penis and a urine test if you are a man. The …
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Prognosis

  • How long symptoms last depends on the cause and how soon treatment is started. Symptoms can improve as soon as 24 hours after treatment starts. However, they may continue for weeks or months when related to Lyme disease, many bacterial strains or tuberculosis. If infection damages joints, symptoms may last a lifetime.
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Further Information

  • The best way to prevent infectious arthritis varies depending on the type of infection: 1. Staphylococcal arthritis– If you have a staphylococcal infection, antibiotics can be used to prevent this type of arthritis (for example, prior to surgery). However, for many people, joint pain and swelling are the first signs of the infection. 2. Gonococcal arthritis– You can prevent this type of arthritis by preventing gonorrhea. Practice safe sex or don't have sex. 3. Ly…
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