Microbiological Characteristics of Septic Arthritis: A Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: To determine the epidemiological characteristics, etiological profile, and antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates from patients with primary septic arthritis at a university hospital.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed between 2016 and 2017. A review of records was done in the Microbiology Department, and patients with clinical suspicion of septic arthritis whose aspirates were received in the lab were selected for the study.

Results: Out of total 216 samples reviewed, 86 showed bacterial growth. Higher joints like knee and hip were more commonly involved and elderly persons were mainly involved (mean age 55 years). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated (72%) and Vancomycin and Linezolid showed highest sensitivity. Among gram negative bacteria colistin and meropenem showed highest sensitivity.

Conclusions: Septic arthritis in our hospital was primarily acute, and monomicrobial; usually affected higher joints, and S. aureus was main causative agent, and adult patients were usually predisposed to this diseases.