Staphylococcus aureus infection complicating haemarthroses in elderly patients.

The case histories of 3 elderly patients who developed haemarthrosis of osteoarthritic joints with subsequent infection with staphylococcus aureus, are described. Trauma to the affected joints was a predisposing factor in 2 patients and, while only one patient developed clinical signs of sepsis, all had marked elevation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Although suspicion of joint sepsis was obscured by the presence of a coexistent haemarthrosis, routine culture of joint aspirates showed infection with staphylococcus aureus and all patients recovered well with antibacterial therapy.