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Infective arthritis
SEPTIC ARTHRITIS
Inflammation of a joint caused by a bacterial infection
About
Infective arthritis is a type of arthritis caused by an infection in your joint. It usually affects your hips, knees, ankles or wrists. More than one joint can be affected at the same time. You can usually make a full recovery following treatment. Without treatment, septic arthritis may lead to irreversible damage to your joint.
Need to know
Symptoms may include:
- intense swelling and pain
- redness and heat in the affected joint
- difficulty moving the affected joint
- a high temperature (fever) or feeling cold accompanied by shivering (chills)
Your consultant will speak to you about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination of your affected joint. They may take a sample of joint fluid using a needle. This is to determine what bacteria are causing your infection. It will help your consultant to plan your treatment. It's also possible you'll have an X-ray, CT or MRI scan to assess the damage to the affected joint.
Treatment options include:
- Over-the-counter painkillers and rest.
- Intravenous antibiotics; you will normally be required to stay in hospital for two weeks to have the antibiotics given to you directly into a vein.
- An arthroscopy, when fluid is drained from your infected joint using a needle and syringe.
Our Infective arthritis locations
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
London Lupus and Rheumatology Centre
1st Floor, St. Olaf House SE1 2PR London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David's gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.