Septic arthritis, also known as infectious or bacterial arthritis, is described as a painful infection that is present in a joint capsule in the human body. Synovial fluid, a lubricating substance found inside a joint capsule, is sterile in an uninfected joint. When a joint becomes infected, this synovial fluid is taken over by microorganisms that set up the infection. It is an uncommon infection, but it involves immediate treatment if detected due to its ability to permanently damage the joint.
Septic arthritis can appear in a joint in many different forms. Most commonly, it can occur when bacteria, viruses, or fungi from other areas of the body travel throughout the bloodstream and into a joint. Infections originating in other parts of the …show more content…
Young people and the elderly are at a higher risk of developing septic arthritis. A person with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), diabetes, or a chemotherapy recipient with a poor immune system can easily acquire septic arthritis due to the immune system not being able to get rid of bacteria or viruses in the bloodstream. Someone with a recent surgery or injury to a joint, or an artificial joint are also at risk because of the joint being exposed to pathogens in the air from a surgery. A person with a current bone infection near a joint is susceptible to having the nearby joint become infected as well. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are at a greater risk of acquiring septic arthritis due to the joints already being inflamed. It can be difficult to tell the difference between a RA flare up where there is no infection and of septic arthritis where there is an infection. If a person whom already has arthritis has an increase of inflammation and pain, their joints becoming infected is a high possibility. According to Abby Abelson, she provides information stating, “The incidence of septic arthritis has been estimated at 2 to 10 cases per 100,000 in the general population and as high as 30 to 70 cases per 100,000 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis,” (Abelson). Her statement provides statistics supporting the idea that individuals with rheumatoid arthritis are at a much higher risk of developing septic arthritis than those who do not. Someone with untreated gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection, can potentially allow the gonococcus bacteria to spread into the bloodstream and into a joint causing an infection. Anyone who abuses drugs through intravenous injections are at risk of developing this infection because of pre-existing bacteria on a
Septic arthritis can appear in a joint in many different forms. Most commonly, it can occur when bacteria, viruses, or fungi from other areas of the body travel throughout the bloodstream and into a joint. Infections originating in other parts of the …show more content…
Young people and the elderly are at a higher risk of developing septic arthritis. A person with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), diabetes, or a chemotherapy recipient with a poor immune system can easily acquire septic arthritis due to the immune system not being able to get rid of bacteria or viruses in the bloodstream. Someone with a recent surgery or injury to a joint, or an artificial joint are also at risk because of the joint being exposed to pathogens in the air from a surgery. A person with a current bone infection near a joint is susceptible to having the nearby joint become infected as well. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are at a greater risk of acquiring septic arthritis due to the joints already being inflamed. It can be difficult to tell the difference between a RA flare up where there is no infection and of septic arthritis where there is an infection. If a person whom already has arthritis has an increase of inflammation and pain, their joints becoming infected is a high possibility. According to Abby Abelson, she provides information stating, “The incidence of septic arthritis has been estimated at 2 to 10 cases per 100,000 in the general population and as high as 30 to 70 cases per 100,000 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis,” (Abelson). Her statement provides statistics supporting the idea that individuals with rheumatoid arthritis are at a much higher risk of developing septic arthritis than those who do not. Someone with untreated gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection, can potentially allow the gonococcus bacteria to spread into the bloodstream and into a joint causing an infection. Anyone who abuses drugs through intravenous injections are at risk of developing this infection because of pre-existing bacteria on a