Septic ArthritisSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Septic Arthritis
View Main Condition: Arthritis
Septic arthritis is inflammation of a joint due to a bacterial or fungal infection. Septic arthritis that is due to the bacteria that cause gonorrhea, has different symptoms and is called gonococcal arthritis.
Bacterial arthritis; Non-gonococcal bacterial arthritis
Septic arthritis develops when bacteria or other tiny disease-causing organisms (microorganisms) spread through the blood to a joint. It may also occur when the joint is directly infected with a microorganism from an injury or during surgery. Joints that are commonly affected are the knee and hip.
Most cases of acute septic arthritis are caused by Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria.
Chronic septic arthritis (which is less common) is caused by organisms including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Candida albicans.
The following conditions increase your risk for septic arthritis:
- Artificial joint implants
- Bacterial infection somewhere else in your body
- Presence of bacteria in your blood
- Chronic illness or disease (such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and sickle cell disease)
- Intravenous (IV) or injection drug or medicine use
- Medicines that suppress your immune system
- Recent joint injury
- Recent joint arthroscopy or other joint surgery
Septic arthritis may be seen at any age. In children, it occurs most often in those younger than 3 years. The hip is often the site of infection in infants. Most cases are caused by the bacteria group B Streptococcus. Another common cause is Haemophilus influenza, especially if the child has not been vaccinated for this bacterium.
Symptoms usually come on quickly. There is a fever and joint swelling that is usually in just one joint. There is also intense joint pain, which gets worse with movement.
Symptoms in newborns or infants:
- Crying when an infected joint is moved (for example, during diaper changes)
- Fever
- Not able to move the limb with the infected joint (pseudoparalysis)
- Fussiness
Symptoms in children and adults:
- Not able to move the limb with the infected joint (pseudoparalysis)
- Severe joint pain
- Joint swelling
- Joint redness
- Fever
Chills may occur, but are uncommon.
Antibiotics are used to treat the infection.
Resting, raising the joint above heart level, and using cool compresses may help relieve pain. After the joint starts to heal, exercising it can help speed up recovery.
If joint (synovial) fluid builds up quickly due to the infection, a needle may be inserted into the joint to withdraw (aspirate) the fluid. Severe cases may need surgery to drain the infected joint fluid and irrigate (wash) the joint.
CHU Gabriel Montpied
Daniel Wendling practices practicing medicine in Clermont-ferrand, France. Mr. Wendling is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Septic Arthritis. He is also highly rated in 29 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Rhizomelic Pseudopolyarthritis, and Polymyalgia Rheumatica.
Robert Inman practices practicing medicine in Toronto, Canada. Mr. Inman is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Septic Arthritis. He is also highly rated in 14 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Ankylosing Spondylitis, Axial Spondyloarthritis (AxSpA), Arthritis, and Reactive Arthritis.
Sakir Ahmed practices practicing medicine in Bhubaneshwar, India. Ahmed is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Septic Arthritis. They are also highly rated in 11 other conditions, according to our data. Their clinical expertise encompasses Reactive Arthritis, Infectious Arthritis, Septic Arthritis, Septoplasty, and Endoscopy.
Recovery is good with prompt antibiotic treatment. If treatment is delayed, permanent joint damage may result.
Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of septic arthritis.
Preventive (prophylactic) antibiotics may be helpful for people at high risk.
Summary: Our primary objective is to better understand the etiology and consequences of chronic paint by using an explorative approach to identify phenotypes and endotypes of patients with inflammatory joint diseases, with a special focus on central sensitization and cognitive functioning as a key element in chronic pain. We will also examine the risk factors and clinical impact of these factors on pain, d...
Summary: The pathophysiology of certain inflammatory arthritides remains poorly understood, particularly when associated with rare systemic autoimmune diseases such as systemic sclerosis (SSc), or when emerging in the context of immune-related adverse events from cancer immunotherapies. These immunotherapy-induced arthritides represent a new and increasingly encountered clinical entity in rheumatology. A d...
Published Date: May 12, 2025
Published By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor in Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Shah SS. Septic arthritis. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 726.