Septic arthritis in infants and children: a review of 117 cases

A review of 117 cases of septic arthritis in infants and children revealed that the concept of staphylococci and streptococci as the major etiologic organisms should be modified to stress the frequency of Hemophilus influenzae in the 6-month to 2-year age bracket and to emphasize the variety of bacteria that must be anticipated in individual cases. Suggestions are made for increasing the frequency of bacteriologic diagnoses and for initiating the antibiotic therapy of patients with septic arthritis based upon age groups and observations of bacterial stains of joint fluid.