Septic arthritis in childhood. A 13-year review
L. L. Barton, L. M. Dunkle and F. H. Habib
Medical records of 111 children discharged with the diagnosis of septic
arthritis from 1973 through 1985 were examined; 122 infected joints were
identified. Bacteria were isolated from joint fluid of 75 patients and from
blood, cerebrospinal fluid, cervix, bone, or wounds of 16. No agent was
isolated from 20 patients, of whom eight had been pretreated with
antibiotics. The knee and hip were most often affected overall (73/122),
although the ankle was as frequently involved with Haemophilus influenzae
type b (6/20). Eighty patients' condition resolved with no sequelae; 18
were unavailable for follow-up. Of the 13 patients with permanent sequelae,
ten had had hip joint infections. Although Staphylococcus aureus was
isolated from patients of all ages, H influenzae type b was the most
frequent pathogen in children 6 through 59 months of age.
