Low frequency of septic arthritis after arthrocentesis and intra-articular glucocorticoid injection.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of septic arthritis (SA) in patients who received an intra-articular (IA) glucocorticoid (GC) injection and to describe the characteristics of these patients. Methods: All patients undergoing IA procedures at the orthopaedic and rheumatological departments on the Danish island of Funen from January 2006 to December 2013 were identified in the central database and included by register extraction. Patients who developed a clinically inflamed joint and positive synovial fluid culture within 14 days after IA GC injection were considered as having SA. Retrospectively, data on age, gender, affected joint location, bacterial agent, pre-existing inflammatory disorder, and death within 30 days were extracted from the patient files. According to local recommendations, a non-touch sterile technique was used for IA procedures. Patients were informed about the risk of SA and advised to seek medical attention on suspicion of infection or lack of improvement. Results: In total, 22 370 IA procedures were performed. Among these, 14 118 GC injections and 8252 arthrocenteses were undertaken. Only 11 patients were diagnosed with SA (0.08%, 95% confidence interval 0.03-0.12). Risk factors for SA were male gender, age, and pre-existing joint disease. Conclusion: We found a low frequency of SA subsequent to IA GC injections. Older patients with pre-existing joint disease are at higher risk of developing SA.

Prognostic factors associated with mortality in patients with septic arthritis: a descriptive cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the 30-day mortality rate of septic arthritis (SA) in adults in Funen, central Denmark, and to explore whether, at the time of SA presentation, risk factors for the 30-day mortality rate could be revealed. Our secondary objective was to describe the microbiological aetiologies, systemic signs of inflammation, and co-morbidity. METHOD: A descriptive study identifying patients with SA from central Denmark, during the period 2006-2013, by the use of joint fluid culture data retrieved from the electronic database at the Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital. Patients with a positive joint fluid culture were considered eligible and their medical records were examined. RESULTS: We identified 215 patients with SA, mean age 64.8 years. At presentation, mean C-reactive protein (CRP) was 204 mg/L, mean white blood cell count (WBC) 11.9 × 109/L, and mean body temperature 37.6°C. A total of 101 patients (47%) had a prosthetic joint, 46 (21%) had an inflammatory joint disease, and 24 (11%) had diabetes mellitus (DM). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen (104 patients, 48.4%). The 30-day mortality rate was 9.3% and the significant risk factor for death was liver disease at time of presentation [odds ratio (OR) 40.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.38-303]. The other factors tested such as age > 65 years, elevated temperature, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), prostheses, and diabetes mellitus (DM) did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: In our sample of patients with SA, we found a 30-day mortality rate in almost one in 10 adults. Among possible explanations, our study indicates that liver disease is a clinically relevant risk factor.