Septic bursitis: experience in a community practice

We reviewed 47 episodes of septic bursitis occurring in a private community medical practice. Most patients were male (85%), and roughly half (49%) the cases were related to recreational or occupational trauma. About 72% of cases were located in the olecranon bursa, while the remaining cases were prepatellar. Prepatellar bursitis patients were more likely to be hospitalized. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 70% of bursal fluid aspirations; other etiologic organisms included gram negative bacteria and Mycobacterium marinum. The majority of patients were able to be treated as outpatients with oral antibiotics. All patients were eventually cured without serious complications.