A STUDY OF INFECTIOUS ARTHRITIS IN HAZRAT RASUL-E AKRAM HOSPITAL(1991-1998)

Infectious arthritis is one of the most common causes of joint destruction. Our case study was taken from 140 patients of which 60 cases were selected, all of them were diagnosed with infectious arthritis by use of synovial fluid cultures. The male to female ratio was 3/2 (40% female, 6%male). Patients ages varied from 18 day infant to 78 years of age.In 12% of patients, more than one joint was affected, 67.7% the knee joint, 22% hip joint, 10% concomitant osteomyelitis and in 5% underlying disease. The most frequently found microorganism was staphylococcus aureus (72%), and the most frequent underlying joint disease was rheumatoid arthritis. It has been determined that the knee joint is the most frequent joint involved in most cases of infectious arthritis. We recommend empirical therapy against staphylococcus aureus in patients with infectious arthritis.