Septic Arthritis: Infectious Agents Penetrate Joints' Spaces

Another major type of arthritis is septic arthritis, which is also known in various terms like: pyogenic arthritis, infectious arthritis, septic joint disease, bacterial arthritis, and suppurative arthritis.  Septic arthritis is a closed-space infection or the invasion of a joint space by a pus-forming bacteria, pathogens, or infectious agents.  Usually, this is bacteria-caused, but there are also cases which occur because of viral, mycobacterial, and fungal reasons.

Septic arthritis usually happen when the microorganisms or bacteria being carried by the bloodstream are trapped in the synovial membranes; or in some other cases, when bacteria or infectious agents penetrate through the joint through an open or traumatized wound or a diseased knee joint.

Patients suffering from septic arthritis usually complain of pain because of the swollen, warmth, and tender part of the joint.  Septic arthritis may also cause acute systematic reaction.  Adult patients may experience low-grade fever and malaise, but anyone with positive blood cultures may experience high temperatures and shaking chills.

In the treatment of septic arthritis, it is important that the causative agent must be determined so that accurate treatment can be applied.  Laboratory tests must be done and conducted to differentiate septic arthritis from other diseases, especially with other autoimmune disorders like the rheumatoid arthritis.  It is most important that careful diagnosis is being made to give the appropriate medication.  Clinical procedures through radiological findings must be conducted so that proper assessment and analysis will be done.  With the advancement in technology especially in radiology, a more accurate and suggestive diagnosis is reached, with the help of imaging, plain film, CT scans, and MRI.  Common septic arthritis treatment is through therapy with intravenous antibiotics, analgesia, and joint aspirations.

Septic arthritis can be controlled if one is careful and keen, but because one can't control the body's blood circulation, thus a person doesn't have a hold over the entrapment of those infectious agents in the joint areas or membranes, then one must be ready and prepared to seek medical attention if he already experiences some symptoms.  Prevention is better than cure, but if ever preventive measures can't be helped then, getting immediate medical attention or examination is one of the best ways to treat it.

To prevent this illness, one must be careful of his environment, medicine, wounds, and diet. As this would be the best way to fight these infectious agents or pathogens that find a way to seep in into the system and into the closed spaces in between the joints.