Septic arthritis
Treatingseptic arthritis
Septic arthritis is treated with antibiotics . You'll normally need to stay in hospital for at least two weeks to have antibiotics given to you directly into a vein (intravenously).
You may need to rest in bed for a few days to take pressure off the affected joint. You'll be given medication to relieve the pain.
You might also have the fluid drained from your infected joint using a needle and syringe, or during a procedure called an arthroscopy .
This is where a fine, metal tube is inserted through a small cut made near the affected joint. This will normally be done byan orthopaedic surgeon.
After you finish the course of intravenous antibiotics, you'll probably need to take antibiotic tablets at home for at least another four weeks.
You should completely recover after antibiotic treatment, although some people still experience persistent limited movement in the affected joint.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about septic arthritis, which is inflammation of a joint caused by a bacterial infection. It's also known as infectious or bacterial arthritis.
Symptoms of septic arthritis
Septic arthritis typically causes severe pain, swelling, redness and heat in affected joints. These symptoms tend to develop quickly over a few hours or days. You may also have difficulty moving the
Diagnosing septic arthritis
If your symptoms suggest septic arthritis, your GP will refer you to your nearest A&E department immediately for an assessment. You may have a Blood tests and a sample of fluid may be removed fr
Treatingseptic arthritis
Septic arthritis is treated with antibiotics . You'll normally need to stay in hospital for at least two weeks to have antibiotics given to you directly into a vein (intravenously). You may need to r
Causes of septic arthritis
The condition is most commonly caused by either: staphylococcal bacteria streptococcal bacteria These bacteria may enter a wound and travel through your bloodstream to the affected joint, or m
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