RheumatologyOrthopaedicsInfectious Disease
Septic Arthritis (Adult)
BSR / BOA — joint aspiration BEFORE antibiotics, empirical IV antibiotics, surgical washout.
Source: BSR 2006; BOA 2020
Step 1 of ~4
info
Recognise
Acute hot, swollen, painful joint with restricted movement + fever / systemic features. Risk factors: age >80, RA / OA, immunosuppression, IVDU, recent intra-articular procedure, prosthetic joint, skin infection, bacteraemia, sickle cell, diabetes. Don't be reassured by absent fever (50% afebrile) or normal WCC.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Drugs
- Hydrocortisone (ICU — Stress Dosing) · Corticosteroid (ICU/Septic Shock)
- Tranexamic Acid (ICU/Trauma/Surgical) · Antifibrinolytic
- Cefuroxime · Second-Generation Cephalosporin — Respiratory / Surgical Prophylaxis
- Hydroxychloroquine · Aminoquinoline — Malaria Prophylaxis / SLE / Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Vancomycin (Orthopaedic Bone and Joint Infections) · Glycopeptide Antibiotic
- Teicoplanin (Orthopaedic Bone and Joint Infections) · Glycopeptide Antibiotic
Pathways
- Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus · BAD; EULAR
- Osteoporosis / Fragility Fracture · NOGG 2021; NICE NG147; NG224
- Arteritic AION (Giant Cell Arteritis) · RCOphth; BSR
- Osteoarthritis Hip / Knee Management · NICE NG226 (2022)
- Lupus Nephritis · EULAR/ERA-EDTA 2019; KDIGO 2024
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Management · NICE CG79 2018 / EULAR 2022
Decision support only. Always apply local guidelines and clinical judgement.