Septic arthritis

Abstract

Musculoskeletal pain is a common presentation in primary care. Although septic arthritis is a rare cause of joint pain, expeditious diagnosis and treatment is of paramount importance to avoid the local destruction of intra-articular cartilage and sepsis. In this article risk factors, pathology, presentation, referral and treatment of suspected septic arthritis are explained, to help GPs identify and manage this potentially life-threatening condition.