Infectious Arthritis or Septic Arthritis

Causes of infectious arthritis are as follows:

• Infectious arthritis can be caused because of the viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. Bacterial infection due to Staphylococcus aureus is the commonest cause of this type of arthritis.
• Rarely a puncture wound, surgery or drug injection in or near a joint can pass germs into the joint space.

Following are the risk factors for the occurrence of infectious arthritis or septic arthritis:

• Existing joint disorders: Chronic diseases which are affecting your joints as osteoarthritis, lupus, gout, or rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of septic arthritis.
• Taking medicines for rheumatoid arthritis: The medicines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of septic arthritis because they suppress the immune system and make infections easier to develop.
• Skin fragility: People who have fragile skin or have skin conditions as psoriasis and eczema have more chances of developing this type of arthritis because germs can easily penetrate through their skin. People who administer injections regularly are also at higher risk of infectious arthritis.
• Weak immune system: People with kidney, diabetes, and liver problems and those who take drugs which suppress immune systems have more risk of developing septic arthritis.
• Joint trauma: Cuts, animal bites, or puncture wounds over joint increases the risk of septic arthritis.

Septic arthritis causes symptoms as:

• Difficulty in using the affected joint
• Red, swollen, and warm joint
• Fever

Following are the tests used to diagnose the septic arthritis:

• Joint fluid analysis: Joint fluid is withdrawn from the affected joint with the aid of a needle and laboratory tests detect the organism which is causing infection.
• Blood tests: A sample of blood is withdrawn from vein with the aid of needle to detect signs of infection.
• Imaging tests: X-rays and some other imaging tests can determine the damage of the affected joint.

Following are the treatments for septic arthritis:

Joint Drainage

Removal of infected joint fluid is a crucial treatment which is done by following ways:

• Needle: In this method infected fluid is withdrawn with a needle by inserting it into the joint space.
• Scope procedure (arthroscopy): In this method a flexible tube with a video camera on its tip is placed in the joint by making a small incision. Then drainage tubes and suction is inserted through tiny incisions around the joint to drain the fluid.

Open Surgery

In case of some joints as the hip joint, fluid is not able to drain with a needle or arthroscopy therefore an open surgical procedure is necessary.

Antibiotics

To select the most effective medication, your doctor must identify the microbe causing your infection. Antibiotics are given according to the microbes causing infection through intravenous route at first, which later on can be switched to oral antibiotics. Normally treatment lasts for two to six weeks.

Alternative Treatments for Infectious or Septic Arthritis

• Ayurvedic treatment: Ayurvedic treatment for Infective arthritis is limited for the cases not responding to modern medicine. In such cases Ayurvedic treatment can be helpful to improve the immunity of the patient which helps to fight against the infections which are not responding to antibiotics.
• Homeopathic treatment: Pyrogenium and Hepar sulfur are the most recommended homeopathic medicines for infectious arthritis.

Dietary Supplement for Infectious Arthritis or Septic Arthritis

Dietary supplements include vitamins, herbs, minerals, and many other products that have a major role in the maintenance of health. They are accessible as pills, capsules, drinks, powders and energy bars. The best dietary supplement for the treatment and management of infectious arthritis or septic arthritis is GLME.

• GLME (Green Lipped Mussel Extract): GLME (Green lipped mussel extract) is the most excellent dietary supplement for infectious arthritis or septic arthritis. It is extracted from the green lipped mussel which is a shell fish grown in the farms of New Zealand. It is highly beneficial for the patients of infectious arthritis or septic arthritis as it has great nutritional value.

Following are the unique benefits of GLME (Green lipped mussel extract) in the treatment and management of infectious arthritis or septic arthritis:

• It inhibits the deterioration of cartilage and repairs the damaged cartilages.
• It lubricates the joints and enhances the joint mobility.
• It shields the stomach lining from the harsh effects of antibiotics used in the treatment of infectious arthritis or septic arthritis by serving as Gastro-protective.
• It reduces inflammation through several mechanisms.

Seatone is the best brand of GLME (green lipped mussel extract) which is available as capsules. Seatone is the safest treatment for infectious arthritis or septic arthritis as:

• It is prepared from the extract of only the top quality, fresh mussels at their peak condition.
• Toxicity is checked by conducting several tests. Even the toxicity is checked at higher doses.

Seatone is better than all the other treatments for infectious arthritis or septic arthritis because:

• As Seatone is obtained from natural source, it does not show any side effects. It is quite safe but the medicines used for the treatment of infectious arthritis or septic arthritis show many side effects.
• Antibiotics used in the treatment of infectious arthritis or septic arthritis damage the gastric lining while Seatone protects the stomach lining from the reactions of these medicines.
• Seatone is much reliable in the treatment of septic arthritis than the alternate treatments.
• Seatone is safe at even higher doses but the medicines for infectious arthritis or septic arthritis can cause adverse effects at higher doses

Along with the prescribed treatment of septic arthritis following things can help you to cope up with the disease:

• Rest: Take enough rest and protect your inflamed joints.
• Exercise: After the elimination of infection you should start gentle exercise which will help you to build up the muscle strength and ultimately will help you to support the joint and develop range of motion.

You can prevent infectious arthritis by avoiding puncture wounds, infections and damage to the skin.

The prognosis for septic arthritis depends on the microbe responsible for infection, the duration of the infection, and the overall health of the person. In some cases microorganisms are more aggressive and are hard to treat. The longer the duration of infection more are the chances of affected joint damage. People with weak immune system are at higher risk joint damage. Moreover in case septic arthritis results in infection of other body parts then other organs may be affected.