Septic arthritis, also known as infectious arthritis or joint infection, is the purulent invasion of a joint by an infectious agent which produces arthritis.^[1] People with artificial joints are more at risk than the general population but have slightly different symptoms, are infected with different organisms and require different treatment.^[2] Septic arthritis is considered a medical emergency. If untreated, it may destroy the joint in a period of days. The infection may also spread to other parts of the body.

Classification

The term “suppurative arthritis” is a near synonym for septic arthritis. (“Suppurative” refers to the production of pus, without necessarily implying sepsis.)

ICD-10 uses the term “pyogenic arthritis”. Pyogenic also refers to the production of pus.

Reactive…