title: Morbimortality in adult patients with septic arthritis: a three-year hospital-based study.
abstract: The objective of this ambispective study was to determine outcomes and associated factors for adult patients with confirmed septic arthritis (SA).
  
  
  
  All adult patients admitted to Amiens University Hospital between November 2010 and December 2013 with confirmed SA were included in the study. Patients with prosthetic joint infections were excluded. A statistical analysis was performed in order to identify risk factors associated with a poor outcome (including mortality directly attributable to SA).
  
  
  
  A total of 109 patients (mean ± SD age: 60.1 ± 20.1; 74 male/35 females) were diagnosed with SA during the study period. The most commonly involved sites were the small joints (n = 34, 31.2 %) and the knee (n = 25, 22.9 %). The most frequent concomitant conditions were cardiovascular disease (n = 45, 41.3 %) and rheumatic disease (n = 39, 35.8 %). One hundred patients (91.7 %) had a positive microbiological culture test, with Staphylococcus aureus as the most commonly detected pathogen (n = 59, 54.1 %). Mortality directly attributable to SA was relatively infrequent (n = 6, 5.6 %) and occurred soon after the onset of SA (median [range]: 24 days [1-42]). Major risk factors associated with death directly attributable to SA were older age (p = 0.023), high C-reactive protein levels (p = 0.002), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.028), rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory rheumatic diseases (p = 0.021), confusion on admission (p = 0.012), bacteraemia (p = 0.015), a low creatinine clearance rate (p = 0.009) and the presence of leg ulcers/eschars (p = 0.003). The median duration of follow-up (in patients who survived for more than 6 months) was 17 months [6-43]. The proportion of poor functional outcomes was high (31.8 %). Major risk factors associated with a poor functional outcome were older age (0.049), hip joint involvement (p = 0.003), the presence of leg ulcers/eschars (p = 0.012), longer time to presentation (0.034) and a low creatinine clearance rate (p = 0.013).
  
  
  
  In a university hospital setting, SA is still associated with high morbidity and mortality rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Amiens University Hospital, F-80054, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrand
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Amiens University Hospital, F-80054, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: El Samad
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Amiens University Hospital, F-80054, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brunschweiler
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Amiens University Hospital, F-80054, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grados
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Amiens University Hospital, F-80054, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Nassima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dehamchia-Rehailia
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Amiens University Hospital, F-80054, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Séjourne
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Amiens University Hospital, F-80054, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Schmit
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Amiens University Hospital, F-80054, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gabrion
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Amiens University Hospital, F-80054, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fardellone
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Amiens University Hospital, F-80054, Amiens, France. julienpaccou@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paccou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus
keywords: C-reactive protein; Clinical characteristics; Mortality; Poor functional outcome; Risk factors; Septic arthritis