title: Septic arthritis due to gram negative bacilli: older patients with good outcome.
abstract: Previous studies of gram negative bacillary septic arthritis conclude it is an uncommon disease of older patients with poor outcome, or of younger patients with good outcome. We reviewed 22 cases of gram negative bacillary septic arthritis in a rural population. The mean age was 61 years, symptoms were of short duration (6.5 days mean), and a chronic illness was frequently present (77%). The knee was involved in 73% and E. coli was the usual causative organism (32%). Antibiotics plus aspiration was a successful initial therapy. Overall survival was 95% and a good outcome was achieved in 68%. Gram negative bacillary septic arthritis affects older patients, and the outcome appears good.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA 17822.
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Harrington
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001424:Bacterial Infections; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents