Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical-microbiological characteristics presented in the area of influence of the Hospital de Bellvitge-Prínceps d'Espanya, of articular infection induced by pyogenic germs in patients without intravenous drug addiction.
Methods: All the cases of microbiologically confirmed articular infection in patients without intravenous drug addiction diagnosed during the period of 1981-1990 were evaluated by protocol.
Results: Five cases (11%) with gonococcal arthritis and 39 cases (89%) of non gonococcal arthritis were observed with Staphylococcus aureus being the causal germ in 27 cases. Sixty percent of the patients presented one or more predisposing factors for the appearance of infectious arthritis. Monoarticular involvement was seen in 84% of the cases. At the time of diagnosis fourteen patients presented radiological signs compatible with septic involvement, with the isotopic study with 99mTc being positive in the 27 cases in which it was carried out. Delay in diagnosis was of 20 +/- 25 days. Functional results were considered as satisfactory in 57% of the cases.
Conclusion: In the area of influence of the Hospital de Bellvitge-Prínceps d'Espanya, the prevalence of gonococcal arthritis is low. Gram positive germ are the most frequent causal agents in all the age groups studied. Gammagraphy with 99mTc presented high profitability in the diagnosis of articular infections. The functional results observed were not optimal and improvement of the same probably requires a shortening in the time of delay in diagnosis.