Nongonococcal bacterial septic arthritis. An update on diagnosis and management.

Nongonococcal septic arthritis, particularly if caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Gram-negative bacilli, presents major dilemmas to the primary care physician. Patients with this disorder require prolonged regimens of parenteral antibiotics in high doses and intensive serial radiographic investigation for coexistent osteomyelitis. For patients with pyoarthrosis caused by Gram-negative bacilli, use of combination synergistic chemotherapy is recommended.