Septic Arthritis: Risk factors

What is the approximate mortality rate associated with septic arthritis?

Which of the following is the most common route of infection in septic arthritis?

Which of the following is a sterile inflammatory process that may occur as a consequence of an infectious process located somewhere else in the body?

Which pre-existing condition is a significant risk factor for developing septic arthritis?

Which of the following patient populations is at an elevated risk for septic arthritis?

Why is the skin a frequent portal of entry for infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?

What is the typical presentation of septic arthritis?

Which joints are most commonly affected by septic arthritis?

How might septic arthritis present differently in patients with pre-existing arthritis?

What percentage of septic arthritis cases occur in children?

What is a key characteristic that differentiates reactive arthritis from septic arthritis?

Which of the following factors contributes to the increased risk of skin infection in RA patients, leading to septic arthritis?

Despite advances in antimicrobial therapy, what has remained relatively unchanged regarding septic arthritis?

What is the most likely source of infection in septic arthritis resulting from haematogenous spread?

In intravenous drug users, what is the primary risk factor that increases their susceptibility to septic arthritis?

Which of the following clinical signs is most indicative of septic arthritis?

A patient with rheumatoid arthritis presents with a sudden increase in pain and swelling in a single joint. What is the most important next step in management?

Which of the following statements best explains why septic arthritis can be particularly destructive to joints?

A patient presents with monoarticular knee pain, fever, and a history of intravenous drug use. Gram stain of the synovial fluid is negative. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?

A 60-year-old patient with diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis develops septic arthritis. Which of the following organisms is the MOST likely causative agent?

What is the primary reason for the lack of improvement in septic arthritis mortality rates over the past 20 years, despite advancements in antimicrobial therapy?

While septic arthritis most commonly affects the large joints of the lower extremities, which of the following scenarios would raise suspicion for septic arthritis in an atypical location?

Which statement best describes the role of joint aspiration in the management of suspected septic arthritis?

What is the MOST likely reason why patients with rheumatoid arthritis are at an increased risk of developing septic arthritis?

A patient presents with acute knee pain, swelling, and fever. Synovial fluid analysis reveals a white blood cell count of 60,000 cells/µL with 90% neutrophils. Gram stain and cultures are pending. What is the MOST appropriate initial antibiotic regimen?

A patient with known septic arthritis is not responding to appropriate antibiotic therapy after 5 days. What is the MOST likely explanation for this?

Which of the following is the MOST important consideration when choosing antibiotics for septic arthritis?

What is the primary difference between septic arthritis and transient synovitis in children?

What is the potential consequence of delayed or inadequate treatment of septic arthritis?

A clinician is evaluating a patient for possible septic arthritis. Which synovial fluid finding would be most suggestive of the diagnosis?

In a patient with septic arthritis, what is the MOST important reason for performing serial joint aspirations?

A patient has septic arthritis secondary to Staphylococcus aureus. They are treated with appropriate antibiotics, but continue to have fevers and elevated inflammatory markers after 7 days. What is the MOST appropriate next step?

A previously healthy patient presents with acute onset of migratory polyarthralgias, tenosynovitis, and a few pustular skin lesions. Arthrocentesis of the knee reveals a sterile effusion. What is the MOST likely diagnosis?

Consider a scenario where a patient with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis develops septic arthritis in their left knee. The causative organism is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Prior to this infection, their rheumatoid arthritis was well-controlled on methotrexate and a TNF inhibitor. Which of the following represents the MOST appropriate long-term management strategy following successful treatment of the septic arthritis?

A researcher is investigating new therapeutic targets for preventing cartilage damage in septic arthritis. Which of the following molecular pathways, if inhibited, would MOST likely provide chondroprotection in this setting?

A patient with a prosthetic knee joint develops acute pain, swelling, and fever. Synovial fluid is purulent, and Gram stain shows gram-positive cocci in clusters. Cultures are pending. In addition to intravenous antibiotics, what other intervention is MOST likely required?

A patient is being evaluated for possible septic arthritis. Which of the following historical findings would be LEAST likely to increase the pre-test probability of septic arthritis?