Nongonococcal Infectious Arthritis Follow-up
- Author: Edward Dwyer, MD; Chief Editor: Herbert S Diamond, MD more...
Further Inpatient Care
- Admit patients with infectious arthritis for parenteral antibacterial therapy and daily arthrocentesis.
- Perform surgical debridement if no response to medical therapy is observed.
Deterrence/Prevention
- Patients with prosthetic joints require antibacterial prophylaxis before surgical procedures. This prophylaxis is similar to the treatment indicated for endocarditis prophylaxis in patients with valvular heart disease.
Complications
- Irreversible loss of joint function may result if the condition is not treated immediately and for an appropriate duration.
Prognosis
- Morbidity and mortality rates are increased in elderly individuals and individuals with preexisting medical conditions.
Patient Education
- For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Arthritis Center and Bacterial and Viral Infections Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article Knee Pain.
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