[Bacterial joint infections: a retrospective study for the source of the infection]

Bacterial arthritis causes rapid damage of the affected joint. Knowledge of the source of the infection that leads to septic arthritis is necessary to judge possible preventive measurements. In this study we tried to detect the source of the infection in 77 episodes of bacterial arthritis in 73 patients admitted in the period 1976-1986. The source of infection was: a joint operation in 21, the skin in 15, the respiratory tract in 7, the genital tract in 8, others in 5, and unknown in 21. A skin infection was the source in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. To our surprise in none of our cases was non-sterile surgery the cause of infection. Our results suggest that since perioperative joint infection is frequent, prevention of such infection may be meaningful. Skin infections are often the source of infection in rheumatoid arthritis, preventive measures are to be considered. Our results do not allow a judgment on the possible preventive measures for the other sources of infection detected or undetected. Administration of antibiotics during non-sterile surgery is not supported by the results of this study.