Effect of Antibiotic Administration Before Joint Aspiration on Synovial Fluid White Blood Cell Count in Native Joint Septic Arthritis.
Richard N PuzzitielloSophie E LipsonRobert G MichaudBenjamin R YorkDaniel J FinchMariano E MenendezScott P RyanAlysse G WurcelMatthew J SalzlerPublished in: Open forum infectious diseases (2024)
The administration of antibiotics before joint aspiration for suspected septic arthritis appears to decrease the synovial fluid WBC count, the percentage of PMNs, and the rate of culture positivity. Efforts to limit antibiotic administration before joint aspiration are important to minimize diagnostic dilemmas and circumvent treatment delays.