Rheumatoid Arthritis Support

Bacteria are carried by the bloodstream from an infectious focus elsewhere, introduced by a skin lesion that penetrates the joint, or by extension from adjacent tissue (e.g. bone or bursae bovine tb).

Micro-organisms must reach the synovial membrane of a joint. This can happen in any of the following ways:

* dissemination of pathogens via the blood, from abscesses or wound infections, or from an unknown focus

* dissemination from an acute osteomyelitic focus,

* dissemination from adjacent soft tissue infection,

* entry via penetrating trauma

* entry via iatrogenic means.

Bacteria that are commonly found to cause septic arthritis are:

* Staphylococcus aureus - the most common cause in adults

* Streptococci - the second most common cause

* Haemophilus influenzae - was the most common cause in children but is now uncommon in areas where Haemophilus vaccination is practiced

* Neisseria gonorrhoea - in young adults (now thought rare in Western Europe)

* Escherichia coli - in the elderly, IV drug users and the seriously ill

* M. tuberculosis, Salmonella spp. and Brucella spp. - cause septic spinal arthritis

In bacterial infection, Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been found to infect joints, especially in children who have sustained a puncture wound. This bacteria also causes endocarditis.


Adapted from the Wikipedia article Septic arthritis, under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki