TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Septic Arthritis A1 - Nelson, Sandra B. A2 - Stone, John H. Y1 - 2021 N1 - T2 - Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Rheumatology, 4e AB - Septic arthritis is characterized by invasion of synovium and synovial fluid by microorganisms, most commonly bacterial. The diagnosis should be considered in the patient who presents with acute monoarthritis, particularly when associated with fever or laboratory signs of acute inflammation.Septic arthritis is a rheumatologic emergency, associated with significant morbidity and mortality if the diagnosis and appropriate management is delayed. When septic arthritis is considered, prompt arthrocentesis is critical. Empiric treatment, including both antimicrobial management and drainage, is recommended when synovial fluid cell counts exceed 50,000 cells/mm3; however, lower cell counts do not exclude the diagnosis, particularly in the immunocompromised host.Treatment is multimodal and includes antimicrobial therapy and effective drainage and debridement. Surgical drainage is most commonly employed (arthroscopically or via an open synovectomy) though serial percutaneous drainage may be considered in some circumstances. Antimicrobial therapy directed to the infecting organism for durations of between 2 and 6 weeks is generally advised. SN - PB - McGraw Hill CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1180198159 ER -