Outcome of Septic Arthritis in Mukdahan Hospital

Abstract

Objectives :
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics of septic arthritis, the effectiveness of treatment, the length of hospital stays, risk factors, and the differences between immunocompromised and healthy hosts in terms of pathogens and length of hospital stays.
Study :
Descriptive retrospective study
Methods :
37 patients with septic arthritis who were admitted to the orthopaedics department in Mukdahan hospital between October 1st, 2018 to September 30th, 2021 were included in this study. General information, clinical characteristics, pathogen cultures, lengths of hospital stay, treatments, and treatment's outcomes were reviewed in the medical records.
Results :
A total of 37 patients were included, with a male to female ratio of 0.59 to 0.40. The most common occupation was agriculture (75.7%). The most underlying disease was diabetes mellitus type 2 (54.8%). Raining season was the most common season of infection (73%). The average illness duration was 9.21 days prior to admission. Septic arthritis most commonly affects the knees (78.4%). The two most prevalent pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (27%) and Burkholderia pseudomallei (8.1%), respectively.
The primary treatment for septic arthritis was a combination of intravenous antibiotics with open arthrotomy (89.2%). 91.9% of empirical antibiotics were utilized. The average length of stay was 15.1 days (38%). All patients experienced better outcomes and were completely discharged.
The study found a significant relationship between gram positive pathogens of septic arthritis in agriculture than in other careers (p<0.024), localized forms of septic arthritis were more gram positive than septicemia forms (p<0.001) and diabetic patients stayed longer (p<0.049).
Conclusion:
Septic arthritis most commonly affects the knees (78.4%). The two most prevalent pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (27%) and Burkholderia pseudomallei (8.1%), respectively. Better clinical outcomes of treatment for septic arthritis were achieved when intravenous antibiotics were combined with open arthrotomy.