Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
04:41
Knee Arthrocentesis in Adults
Published on: February 25, 2022
[Septic arthritis in the elderly: about 21 cases]
Leila Cheikhrouhou Abdelmoula1, Raoudha Tekaya, Chiraz Ben Hadj Yahia
1Service de rhumatologie, Hôpital Charles Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisie.
La Tunisie Medicale
|February 8, 2008
Summary
Septic arthritis (SA) in the elderly presents atypically, leading to delayed diagnosis. Prompt management of this serious joint inflammation is crucial for favorable outcomes in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Geriatrics
Context:
- Septic arthritis (SA) poses a significant threat to elderly individuals, particularly those with comorbidities and weakened immune systems.
- This retrospective study analyzed 21 cases of SA in patients aged 65 and above over a decade.
Purpose:
- To discuss the diagnostic challenges, prognosis, and therapeutic implications of septic arthritis in the elderly population.
- To highlight the importance of early recognition and intervention for septic arthritis in older adults.
Summary:
- The study found that septic arthritis in the elderly often presents atypically, resulting in a mean diagnostic delay of 23 days for pyogenic SA and 9.3 months for tuberculous arthritis.
- Staphylococcus Aureus was the most common pathogen identified, and tuberculous arthritis accounted for 28.6% of cases.
- Ninety percent of patients achieved a favorable outcome following antibiotic therapy.
Impact:
- Emphasizes the need to consider septic arthritis in any elderly patient presenting with joint inflammation.
- Underscores the critical importance of timely and appropriate management to improve patient outcomes and reduce morbidity associated with SA in the elderly.
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