There a number of types of arthritis that are distinguishable according to the reasons due to which it occurs. Septic arthritis is one such type of arthritis. As the name suggests it occurs due to the infection in the joint. An infectious agent invades the joints, damages it and gives rise to arthritis. In most cases, the infectious agent is a bacterium; however, the agents belonging to the other groups as viruses, mycobacterium and fungi also are responsible in some of the cases.

Septic arthritis can occur to any joint in the body. Moreover, it can occur in any age. There are different modes through which the infection can reach the joint. The most common among them is through blood. In addition, infection occurring in any part of the body can release these organisms in the blood and this infection can reach the joints.  However, infection in a nearby joint also is very common cause of septic arthritis. The infection through the skin above the joint is less common as most of the times it is treated as it is visible externally as well.

Initially septic arthritis will occur in just one joint, however, if not treated it may spread and affect the other joints or tissues as well. The common symptoms of arthritis a joint accompanied with fever can be considered as the symptoms of septic arthritis. However, the fever does not occur in all the cases and therefore it is detected only through diagnosis.

The effects of septic arthritis include effusion of the joint, swelling in the soft tissues, periarticular osteoarthritis, reduction in the space of the joints, erosions in the different parts of the joints and ankylosis of bones.

The traditional methods of diagnosis are aspiration, gram stain and culture of a sample from the joint or neutrophils, ESR or CRP etc. However, these days more accurate and convenient radiological tests also are can be used for diagnosis which provide a lot more information about the effects on the joints and the surrounding tissues.

The treatment of septic arthritis will include use of antibiotics analgesia, and aspiration of the joints during which they are washed out to dryness. The main aim of treatment will include removing the infection, which has caused the septic arthritis. Analgesics are necessary as septic arthritis causes pain as the other types of arthritis.

There are no known preventive measures against it. However, diagnosing and treating it as early as possible is surely beneficial.