Intra-articular procedures and associated septic arthritis: A mini-review

Native joint septic arthritis (SA) is a severe, potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the invasion of synovial fluid and membrane by pathogens, most commonly bacteria. The rising frequency of intra-articular procedures such as joint aspirations and injections has led to increased concern regarding iatrogenic septic arthritis. This mini-review aims to summarize current understanding of the incidence, risk factors, bacterial etiology, and strategies for preventing SA associated with intra-articular procedures. Recent studies report that while iatrogenic SA incidence remains low, ranging between 0.002% and 0.008% following injections, it is higher following arthroscopy (0.14%). Risk factors for iatrogenic SA mirror those of hematogenous SA, comprising older age, male gender, comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, and systemic corticosteroid therapy. Staphylococcus aureus remains the most frequently implicated pathogen, followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci and streptococci. Preventive measures, including hand antisepsis, patient skin disinfection, and the wearing of surgical masks, are essential to reducing the risk of SA during intra-articular procedures. Despite low incidence, SA poses significant morbidity and mortality risks, underscoring the need for adherence to infection control protocols. This review highlights the importance of standardized preventive measures and further research into optimized aseptic techniques, the objective being to mitigate the risk of iatrogenic infections in clinical practice.