Native Joint Septic Arthritis: Comparison of Outcomes with Medical and Surgical Management

Arthroscopic Treatment Is a Safe and Effective Alternative to Open Treatment for Acute Septic Arthritis of the Native Knee: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

To compare complication rates, reoperation rates, and subjective outcomes after arthroscopic and open irrigation and debridement for treatment of native knee septic arthritis.

METHODS

Following The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, a systematic review of the Embase, Cochrane, and PubMed databases was performed. Comparative studies reporting clinical outcomes after arthroscopic versus open treatment for septic arthritis of the native knee in human adults were included. Excluded were case series with <10 patients, inclusion of patients <18 years old, studies on non-native joints, abstract-only publications, and studies without stratification of the involved joint. Two reviewers in duplicate independently performed search and data extraction. The quality of the included studies was assessed with the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies instrument. The mean score among the included studies was 18.2 (range 16-23).

RESULTS

Eleven studies were included, comprising 2,343 knees treated arthroscopically, and 1,595 treated with arthrotomy. Studies reported no differences in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, peripheral white blood cells, or symptom chronicity between groups. Nine studies (81.8%) attempted to control for potentially confounding variables in their analyses, and 4 studies (36.4%) reported significant differences in patient characteristics. Reoperation rates ranged from 0% to 50% for arthroscopy and 6% to 71% for arthrotomy. Complication rates ranged from 0% to 39.4% arthroscopically and 0% to 49% for arthrotomy. Superior patient-reported outcomes were achieved after arthroscopy in 2 studies that analyzed subjective outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Arthroscopic management of native knee septic arthritis is a safe and effective alternative to open treatment and is associated with comparable complication rates, reoperation rates, hospitalization lengths, readmission rates, and superior patient-reported outcomes compared with open irrigation and debridement.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, systematic review of Level I, III, and IV studies.

Arthroscopic Treatment of the Septic Ankle

Ankle joint sepsis is a relatively rare but potentially devastating pathologic process of the lower extremity that requires expeditious identification and management. Establishing the diagnosis of ankle joint sepsis is often challenging as it may present with concomitant pathologies and often lacks consistency in regard to classic clinical characteristics. Once a diagnosis has been established, prompt management is imperative to minimize the potential for long-term sequelae. The purpose of this chapter is to address the diagnosis and management of the septic ankle with a focus on arthroscopic treatment.

Prevotella bivia Septic Arthritis in an Immunocompetent Adult: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Septic arthritis is a medical emergency that requires prompt diagnosis to prevent long-term intra-articular complications. Prevotella bivia is an anaerobic gram-negative rod which has been infrequently reported to cause septic arthritis. We present a 49-year-old female that presented with spontaneous left knee pain and swelling without history of insult to the knee. She was initially misdiagnosed with patellar tendinitis and gout but later underwent joint aspiration due to worsening symptoms, which demonstrated 60 800/µL nucleated cells with a polymorphonuclear burden consistent with septic arthritis. Arthroscopy with irrigation and drainage was subsequently performed, and the patient was started on empiric antibiotics while awaiting cultures. Cultures grew Prevotella bivia, and antibiotics were deescalated to ertapenem alone followed by oral metronidazole. Prevotella species as a source of septic arthritis is rare, and its occurrence in a patient without known insult to the knee is even more uncommon. It is essential that it is recognized to treat appropriately and prevent long-term loss of function in the joint.

Clinical Characteristics and In-Hospital Outcomes in Dialysis Patients with Septic Arthritis

Background and Objectives: Septic arthritis is a medical emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality. The incidence rate of septic arthritis among dialysis patients is higher than the general population, and dialysis patients with bacteremia frequently experience adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical features and risk factors for longer hospital length of stay (LOS), positive blood culture, and in-hospital mortality in dialysis patients with septic arthritis. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 52 septic arthritis dialysis patients admitted to our hospital from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2020 were analyzed. The primary outcomes were bacteremia and in-hospital mortality. Variables were compared, and risk factors were evaluated using linear and logistic regression models. Results: Twelve (23.1%) patients had positive blood cultures. A tunneled cuffed catheter for dialysis access was used in eight (15.4%) patients, and its usage rate was significantly higher in patients with positive blood culture than in those with negative blood culture (41.7 vs. 7.5%, p = 0.011). Fever was present in 15 (28.8%) patients, and was significantly more frequent in patients with positive blood culture (58.3 vs. 20%, p = 0.025). The most frequently involved site was the hip (n = 21, 40.4%). The most common causative pathogen was Gram-positive cocci, with MRSA (n = 7, 58.3%) being dominant. The mean LOS was 29.9 ± 25.1 days. The tunneled cuffed catheter was a significant predictor of longer LOS (Coef = 0.49; Cl 0.25−0.74; p < 0.001). The predictors of positive blood culture were fever (OR = 4.91; Cl 1.10−21.83; p = 0.037) and tunneled cuffed catheter (OR = 7.60; Cl 1.31−44.02; p = 0.024). The predictor of mortality was tunneled cuffed catheter (OR = 14.33; Cl 1.12−183.18; p = 0.041). Conclusions: In the dialysis population, patients with tunneled cuffed catheter for dialysis access had a significantly longer hospital LOS. Tunneled cuffed catheter and fever were independent predictors of positive blood culture, and tunneled cuffed catheter was the predictor of in-hospital mortality. The recognition of the associated factors allows for risk stratification and determination of the optimal treatment plan in dialysis patients with septic arthritis.

COVID-19 Outcomes and Genomic Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Isolated From Veterans in New England States: Retrospective Analysis

BACKGROUND

Clinical and virologic characteristics of COVID-19 infections in veterans in New England have not been described. The average US veteran is a male older than the general US population. SARS-CoV-2 infection is known to cause poorer outcomes among men and older adults, making the veteran population an especially vulnerable group for COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate clinical and virologic factors impacting COVID-19 outcomes.

METHODS

This retrospective chart review included 476 veterans in six New England states with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between April and September 2020. Whole genome sequencing was performed on SARS-CoV-2 RNA isolated from these veterans, and the correlation of genomic data to clinical outcomes was evaluated. Clinical and demographic variables were collected by manual chart review and were correlated to the end points of peak disease severity (based on oxygenation requirements), hospitalization, and mortality using multivariate regression analyses.

RESULTS

Of 476 veterans, 274 had complete and accessible charts. Of the 274 veterans, 92.7% (n=254) were men and 83.2% (n=228) were White, and the mean age was 63 years. In the multivariate regression, significant predictors of hospitalization (C statistic 0.75) were age (odds ratio [OR] 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.08) and non-White race (OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.13-5.01). Peak severity (C statistic 0.70) also varied by age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.11) and O2 requirement on admission (OR 45.7, 95% CI 18.79-111). Mortality (C statistic 0.87) was predicted by age (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01-1.11), dementia (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.07-11.1), and O2 requirement on admission (OR 6.74, 95% CI 1.74-26.1). Most (291/299, 97.3%) of our samples were dominated by the spike protein D614G substitution and were from SARS-CoV-2 B.1 lineage or one of 37 different B.1 sublineages, with none representing more than 8.7% (26/299) of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

In a cohort of veterans from the six New England states with a mean age of 63 years and a high comorbidity burden, age was the largest predictor of hospitalization, peak disease severity, and mortality. Non-White veterans were more likely to be hospitalized, and patients who required oxygen on admission were more likely to have severe disease and higher rates of mortality. Multiple SARS-CoV-2 lineages were distributed in patients in New England early in the COVID-19 era, mostly related to viruses from New York State with D614G mutation.

A case of hip joint septic arthritis due to haematogenous infection, which was misdiagnosed sternoclavicular joint septic arthritis as SAPHO syndrome

Anterior chest pain associated with sternoclavicular arthritis has been considered a symptom specific to SAPHO syndrome. Differentiating aseptic arthritis of the SAPHO syndrome from infectious sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) arthritis is often difficult. We reported a 55-year-old woman with left hip joint and right SCJ pain. Diagnosis and treatment were delayed because she was misdiagnosed with SAPHO syndrome, and haematogenous infection spread to the hip joint septic arthritis. She was diagnosed promptly after presenting to our hospital and underwent early debridement, and her hip joint and SCJ was found to have almost no dysfunction. Differentiation between sternoclavicular arthritis of the SAPHO syndrome and sternoclavicular septic arthritis is clinically important and requires careful attention.

2020 French recommendations on the management of septic arthritis in an adult native joint

Septic arthritis (SA) in an adult native joint is a rare condition but a diagnostic emergency due to the morbidity and mortality and the functional risk related to structural damage. Current management varies and the recommendations available are dated. The French Rheumatology Society (SFR) Bone and Joint Infection Working Group, together with the French Language Infectious Diseases Society (SPILF) and the French Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Society (SOFCOT) have worked according to the HAS methodology to devise clinical practice recommendations to diagnose and treat SA in an adult native joint. One new focus is on the importance of microbiological documentation (blood cultures and joint aspiration) before starting antibiotic treatment, looking for differential diagnoses (microcrystal detection), the relevance of a joint ultrasound to guide aspiration, and the indication to perform a reference X-ray. A cardiac ultrasound is indicated only in cases of SA involving Staphylococcus aureus, oral streptococci, Streptococcus gallolyticus or Enterococcus faecalis, or when infective endocarditis is clinically suspected. Regarding treatment, we stress the importance of medical and surgical collaboration. Antibiotic therapies (drugs and durations) are presented in the form of didactic tables according to the main bacteria in question (staphylococci, streptococci and gram-negative rods). Probabilistic antibiotic therapy should only be used for patients with serious symptoms. Lastly, non-drug treatments such as joint drainage and early physical therapy are the subject of specific recommendations.