Experimental E. coli arthritis in the rabbit. A model of infectious and post-infectious inflammatory synovitis.

Rabbit knee joints challenged with E. coli 06 underwent a self-limited infection lasting several weeks followed by a prolonged post-infectious inflammatory arthritis. The E. coli used did not possess collagenolytic activity nor did a variety of common aerobic clinical isolates. Articular cartilage destruction occurred by two basically different mechanisms: u) direct invasion of pannus at the juxtaarticular margins, and 2) fibrillation in cartilage to cartilage contact areas. Weekly measurement of intra-articular pH and temperature were correlated with bacteriologic findings and groww and microscopic pathologic events.