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Therapy for Septic Arthritis

Therapy for Septic Arthritis The usefulness of the results of serial cultures of synovial fluid in assessing the response to medical therapy of acute bacterial joint infections was examined. A five-year retrospective survey disclosed 32 synovial fluid culture-proved cases of septic arthritis in adults. Thirteen of the patients had well-documented evidence of (1) duration of articular symptoms (presumably reflecting the presence of infection) and (2) subsequent time required to sterilize the synovial fluids (as determined by serial synovial fluid cultures). We found a positive correlation between duration of symptoms and length of time during which serial cultures of synovial fluids remained positive after initiation of treatment. In the seven patients with good outcome, cultures remained positive for 2.4±1.9 days, as opposed to 8.2±2.4 days in the six patients with poor results. The time required to sterilize the synovial fluid appears to be a reliable indicator of response to therapy and an accurate predictor of outcome. Our data show that the rapidity in achieving synovial fluid sterility is of paramount importance in the successful treatment of infection, preservation of articular integrity, and restoration of joint function. (JAMA 1982;247:797-800) http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA American Medical Association

Therapy for Septic Arthritis

Ho, George; Su, Eugene Y.
JAMA , Volume 247 (6) – Feb 12, 1982
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References (9)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1982 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/DFARS Restrictions Apply to Government Use.
ISSN
0098-7484
eISSN
1538-3598
DOI
10.1001/jama.1982.03320310045027
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The usefulness of the results of serial cultures of synovial fluid in assessing the response to medical therapy of acute bacterial joint infections was examined. A five-year retrospective survey disclosed 32 synovial fluid culture-proved cases of septic arthritis in adults. Thirteen of the patients had well-documented evidence of (1) duration of articular symptoms (presumably reflecting the presence of infection) and (2) subsequent time required to sterilize the synovial fluids (as determined by serial synovial fluid cultures). We found a positive correlation between duration of symptoms and length of time during which serial cultures of synovial fluids remained positive after initiation of treatment. In the seven patients with good outcome, cultures remained positive for 2.4±1.9 days, as opposed to 8.2±2.4 days in the six patients with poor results. The time required to sterilize the synovial fluid appears to be a reliable indicator of response to therapy and an accurate predictor of outcome. Our data show that the rapidity in achieving synovial fluid sterility is of paramount importance in the successful treatment of infection, preservation of articular integrity, and restoration of joint function. (JAMA 1982;247:797-800)

Journal

JAMA – American Medical Association

Published: Feb 12, 1982

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