Septic arthritis is a joint infection caused by bybacteria, viruses, or mushrooms. This disease usually attacks the joints-jointsbig in in the body, for example the knee or hip joints. Septic arthritis usually suffer byinfants and the elderly.
Septic arthritis can occur because the lining of the joints (synovium) cannot completely protect the joint from infection. To fight infection, the body reacts by causing inflammation in the joints.
Infection due to septic arthritis progresses quickly. This condition can damage other tissues within the joint, such as cartilage. Immediate treatment is needed to prevent this damage.
Symptoms of Septic Arthritis
Symptoms of septic arthritis tend to develop very quickly over a matter of hours or days. Some of the symptoms that can be felt are:
- The infected joint is swollen, red, and feels warm.
- Joint pain, especially when the joint is moved.
- Difficulty moving the leg at the infected joint.
- Fever, but only occurs in some sufferers.
- The body feels tired and weak.
Babies who suffer from septic arthritis will become grumpy and cry when the joint is moved, for example when their parents are changing diapers.
When to go to the doctor
Immediately consult a doctor if you feel symptoms of septic arthritis that cause pain and make it difficult for you to move the affected joint. You should be alert if the joint looks swollen, red, feels warm, and causes a fever.
Medications for rheumatoid arthritis can trigger septic arthritis. Therefore, someone who takes rheumatoid arthritis medication also needs to see a doctor regularly to monitor the progress of the disease, as well as the side effects that can arise.
Causes of Septic Arthritis
Septic arthritis can be caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses. The bacteria that commonly cause septic arthritis in adults and children are: Staphylococcus, Haemophilus influenza, and Streptococcus.
Septic arthritis caused by this bacterium can spread through the bloodstream to reach the joints. Generally, bacteria enter the bloodstream through an open wound, injection of a drug, or surgery in an area near a joint. In addition, urinary tract infections that spread to the bloodstream can also cause septic arthritis.
There are several types of fungi that can cause septic arthritis, including mushrooms histoplasma, Coccidiomuces, or Blastomyces. Fungal septic arthritis usually develops more slowly than bacterial infections.
Meanwhile, the types of viruses that can cause septic arthritis are herpes viruses, adenoviruses, viral mumps, hepatitis A, B, and C, and HIV.
There are a number of factors that can increase the risk of developing septic arthritis, including:
- A weak immune system, for example due to suffering from diabetes, kidney and liver disorders, and taking immunosuppressant drugs.
- Having injuries and disorders in the joints, such as osteoarthritis, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Recent joint surgery, such as a knee or hip replacement.
- Skin conditions that break easily and are difficult to heal, so bacteria can easily enter.
- Frequent use of injection drugs.
Diagnosis of Septic Arthritis
The doctor will ask about the symptoms suffered by the patient, then examine the joints that are sore. If it is suspected that the patient is suffering from septic arthritis, the doctor can perform a series of investigations as follows:
- Arthrocentesis, which is taking a sample of joint fluid using a special needle to look for signs of infection.
- Blood tests, to monitor signs of inflammation due to infection through blood tests.
- X-rays, to get an idea of how severe the joint damage is.
Septic Arthritis Treatment
In treating septic arthritis, doctors will combine antibiotics with draining joint fluid. The following is an explanation of the treatment methods for treating septic arthritis:
Antibiotics
Antibiotics aim to treat infections, and prevent the infection from spreading more widely. The choice of this antibiotic depends on the type of microbe causing the infection.
In the early stages, antibiotics will be given in the form of injections and then the drugs will be replaced with antibiotics that are taken by mouth. The duration of antibiotic therapy can reach 2-6 weeks.
Joint fluid drain
Antibiotics need to be followed by draining the fluid from the infected joint. This action aims to clean the infection completely.
Draining the fluid can be done using a needle inserted into the joint cavity or by using an arthroscope, which is a tube-shaped instrument with a camera on the end. This device is inserted into the joint through small incisions to suck up and drain the infected fluid.
Arthroscopic procedures are sometimes difficult to perform on some joints. Therefore, the orthopedic doctor will recommend open surgery to drain the infected joint fluid.
If not treated immediately, septic arthritis can lead to dangerous complications. This happens because septic arthritis can cause decreased ability (degeneration) and permanent joint damage.
Septic Arthritis Prevention
Septic arthritis can be prevented by avoiding infection. Try not to get injured on the skin. One thing that can be done is to use a moisturizer so that the skin does not crack.
For someone who has just had joint surgery, it is necessary to have regular check-ups with an orthopedic doctor to monitor the surgical wound.
