Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Staphylococcus aureus infection complicating haemarthroses in elderly patients

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Clinical Rheumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The case histories of 3 elderly patients who developed haemarthrosis of osteoarthritic joints with subsequent infection with staphylococcus aureus, are described. Trauma to the affected joints was a predisposing factor in 2 patients and, while only one patient developed clinical signs of sepsis, all had marked elevation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Although suspicion of joint sepsis was obscured by the presence of a coexistent haemarthrosis, routine culture of joint aspirates showed infection with staphylococcus aureus and all patients recovered well with antibacterial therapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Newman, J.H. Review of septic arthritis throughout the antibiotic era. Ann Rheum Dis, 1976, 35, 198–205.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Smith, J.W. Infectious arthritis in principle and practice of infectious diseases, eds: Mandell, G.L., Douglas, R.G. Jr., Bennett, J.E., New York. John Wiley and Sons, 1979, 933–945.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Miller, E.H. Management of soft tissue bleeding in haemarthrosis in haemophilia. Clin Orthop, 1972, 82, 92–107.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Houghton, G.R. Septic arthritis in the hip of a haemophiliac. Clin Orthop, 1977, 129, 223–224.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Rosner, S.N., Bhogal, R.S. Infectious arthritis in a haemophiliac. J Rheumatol, 1981, 8, 519–521.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Moseley, P., Gold, R.M., Fields, S. et al. Haemophilia, maintenance haemodialysis and septic arthritis. Arch Intern Med, 1981, 141, 138–139.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Cobb, W.B. Septic polyarthritis in a haemophiliac. J Rheumatol, 1984, 11, 87–89.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Rosenthal, J., Bole, G.G., Robinson, W.D. Acute non-gonococcal infectious arthritis. Arthritis Rheum, 1980, 23, 889–897.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Baum, J. Infection in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum, 1971, 14, 135–137.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Goldenberge, D.L., Cohen, A.S. Acute infectious arthritis. Am J Med, 1976, 60, 369–377.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Manshady, B.M., Thompson, G.R., Weiss, J.J. Septic arthritis in a general hospital 1966–1977. J Rheumatol, 1980, 7, 523–530.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. East Dorset Health District, Christchurch Hospital, BH23 2JX, Christchurch, Great Britain

    M. Helliwell (Senior Registrar in Rheumatology)

Authors
  1. M. Helliwell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Helliwell, M. Staphylococcus aureus infection complicating haemarthroses in elderly patients. Clin Rheumatol 4, 90–92 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02032325

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02032325

Key words

Search

Navigation