Management of septic arthritis in adults with a hot swollen joint: British Society for Rheumatology guideline scope

The last British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) guideline on the hot swollen joint (HSJ) was published in 2006. The guideline needs to be updated to provide a summary of the current evidence for investigating and managing a HSJ, with a particular focus on septic arthritis. This guideline is aimed at healthcare professionals in the UK who directly care for people presenting with an HSJ, including front-line clinicians (in general practice and the emergency department), rheumatologists, orthopaedic surgeons, infectious diseases physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, hand therapists, pharmacists, other health professionals and people experiencing an HSJ. It will also be relevant to people with lived experience of the condition as well as organizations that support them in the public and private sectors, including charities and informal patient support groups. This guideline will be developed using the methods and processes outlined in the BSR Guideline Protocol. Here we provide a brief summary of the scope of the guideline update in development.