SEPTIC ARTHRITIS AFTER ARTHROSCOPY - THE CONTRIBUTING ROLES OF INTRAARTICULAR STEROIDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS

During a 9-month period at a small surgical center, seven cases of pos tarthroscopic septic arthritis occurred after 352 arthroscopic procedu res, for an infection rate of 2.0%. Electrocardiographic cables contam inated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa from an unsterile cleaning solution probably led to two shoulder infections. Five other infections (one d efinite Staphylococcus aureus and three definite and one possible coag ulase-negative staphylococci) were attributed to inadequate arthroscop e disinfection. In the initial phase of the outbreak, use of intraoper ative intraarticular corticosteroids correlated with the occurrence of infection.