Characteristics of patients with definite septic arthritis at Hamad General Hospital, Qatar: a hospital-based study from 2006 to 2011 (original) (raw)

The aim of this retrospective study, was to determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics, co-existing conditions, causative organisms and outcome of all adult patients 15 years of age or older who had definite septic arthritis seen at Hamad general hospital, Qatar from 2006 to 2011. During this period, 56 patients were diagnosed with septic arthritis with a mean age (±SD) of 49.0 ±16.6 years. In 53/56 (94.6%) patients, arthritis was diagnosed in a single joint while polyarthritis was diagnosed in 3/56 (5.4%) and the commonest joint involved was the knee 40/59 (67.7%). The most frequent coexisting condition was diabetes mellitus 24/56 (42.8%), while joint pain and restriction of movement were reported by all patients. Gram positive bacteria accounted for 36/57 (63.0%) of all isolated microorganisms, and Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest pathogen 20/57 (35.0 %). Three cases of tuberculous arthritis were seen. The most favored antibiotic combinations were cloxacillin/ciprofloxacin; cefazolin/ciprofloxacin and vancomycin/ciprofloxacin. Repeated needle aspirations were used in 18/56 (32.1%) patients and open drainage of the joints was performed on 22/56 (39.3%) patients, while