[Peripheral septic arthritis in adults. Epidemiologic study in a Galician health area].
BACKGROUND
Both, clinical and biologic manifestations of septic arthritis are long been know, but few studies of its epidemiological aspects are well-documented. Literature concerning epidemiological aspects of septic arthritis remains exceptional in Galician Autonomic Community.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this investigation was to study the etiopathogenesis and epidemiological characteristic of septic arthritis in the adult population from hospital county of Servicio Galego de Saúde (SERGAS).


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study of all peripheral septic arthritis registered between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2000 on adult population of our health district of SERGAS (127.000 inhabitants). The location, etiology, pathogenesis and epidemiological characteristics were obtained from medical records.


RESULTS
The case records of 45 patients with 46 septic arthritis (37 native joints and 9 prosthetic joints) were registered. The mean age was 57 years and 24 patients were male. During the study period, the incidence of bacterial arthritis suffered a progressive reduction to 10.2/105 inhabitants (1995) up to 3.1/10(5) (2000) with a median of 7.2/10(5). Ten patients (22%), eight male and two women, had a post-traumatic septic arthritis. Major risk factors were diabetes mellitus (5 patients), rheumatoid arthritis (5 patients) and intravenous drug abuse (3 patients). Staphylococcus aureus was the principal causative agent (28 patients, 62%) and the knee was the most commonly affected joint (41%), followed by the hip (15%) and ankle (15%).


CONCLUSIONS
During the past six years, the incidence of adult peripheral septic arthritis in our SERGAS health district has been gradually reduced. Trauma was a important factor in the development of septic arthritis through direct inoculation or through spread from adjacent infectious focus. The major systemic factors predisposing to joint infection were rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes mellitus. In both, native and prosthetic joints, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolated pathogen.
Gómez Rodríguez
N
N
Servicio de Reumatología, Centro Médico POVISA, C/Salamanca, 5-36211 Vigo.
Ibáñez Ruán
J
J
González
M
M
Pintado
A
A
Penelas Cortés
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology