Bacterial arthritis in the elderly.
Cooper C., Cawley MI.
The clinical and microbiological features of bacterial arthritis in 21 elderly patients presenting to hospitals in an English health district over the decade 1973-1982 are reviewed. Differences from bacterial arthritis in younger patients include the high prevalence (71%) of underlying joint disease, infections more commonly affecting the hip (38%), absence of constitutional features of toxaemia and delay in diagnosis. Outcome in elderly patients is markedly worse, with an appreciable mortality attributable to the condition.