Infectious Arthritis

What Is It?

Infectious arthritis is joint pain, soreness, stiffness, and swelling caused by an infectious agent such as bacteria, viruses or fungi.

These infections can enter a joint various ways:

• After spreading through the bloodstream from another part of the body, such as the lungs during pneumonia
• Through a nearby wound
• After surgery, an injection or trauma

Once the infection reaches the joint, it can cause symptoms of joint inflammation that is often accompanied by fever and chills. Depending on the type of infection, one or more joints may be affected.