Serratia joint infection

A Serratia joint infection is an uncommon form of septic arthritis caused by Gram-negative opportunistic bacilli of the genus *Serratia*, most frequently *Serratia marcescens* It primarily affects the musculoskeletal system, involving native or prosthetic joints—such as the knee, shoulder, or fibrocartilaginous axial joints—frequently arising via hematogenous dissemination, direct iatrogenic inoculation, or trauma in immunocompromised hosts, hospitalized patients, and individuals with intravenou...

A Serratia joint infection is an uncommon form of septic arthritis caused by Gram-negative opportunistic bacilli of the genus *Serratia*, most frequently *Serratia marcescens* Clinically and pathophysiologically, the organism colonizes the synovial membrane and space, eliciting intense neutrophil infiltration and inflammatory effusion that manifest as acute articular pain, swelling, erythema, and functional limitation

It primarily affects the musculoskeletal system, involving native or prosthetic joints—such as the knee, shoulder, or fibrocartilaginous axial joints—frequently arising via hematogenous dissemination, direct iatrogenic inoculation, or trauma in immunocompromised hosts, hospitalized patients, and individuals with intravenous drug use

It primarily affects the musculoskeletal system, involving native or prosthetic joints—such as the knee, shoulder, or fibrocartilaginous axial joints—frequently arising via hematogenous dissemination, direct iatrogenic inoculation, or trauma in immunocompromised hosts, hospitalized patients, and individuals with intravenous drug use

Clinically and pathophysiologically, the organism colonizes the synovial membrane and space, eliciting intense neutrophil infiltration and inflammatory effusion that manifest as acute articular pain, swelling, erythema, and functional limitation

Clinically and pathophysiologically, the organism colonizes the synovial membrane and space, eliciting intense neutrophil infiltration and inflammatory effusion that manifest as acute articular pain, swelling, erythema, and functional limitation If untreated, release of proteolytic enzymes and bacterial toxins within the closed joint space leads to rapid cartilage destruction and contiguous osteomyelitis