COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF NATIVE JOINT INFECTIONS DURING COVID AND PRE-COVID PERIOD AT A TERTIARY CENTRE

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionThe short and long-term effects of covid infection are still being explored. Following a series of joint infections noted in patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, we explored if there was any difference in the incidence of these joint infections when compared to pre-COVID era.AimThe aim of this study was to determine the incidence of native joint infections during COVID and pre-COVID period and compare the two groups for any differences.MethodologyPatients diagnosed with septic arthritis over the 15th months of lockdown were studied and were compared with the same period prior to Covid-19 infection. The patient characteristics, the rate of septic arthritis, the presence of recent Covid-19 infection, delay in diagnosis and the difference in the microbiology between the two groups was studied.ResultsThere were 36 joint infections during the COVID period in comparison to 46 joint infections during pre-COVID period. Both groups had similar mean age. Knee was the most common joint involved in both groups. About 50% (n = 18) of the joint infections during the COVID period did not grow any micro-organisms even after extended culture, which was higher in comparison to the pre-COVID group (35%, n = 16).ConclusionThe culture negative group have significantly reduced markers of infection. The was no increase in the rate of septic arthritis however there was an increase in culture negative arthritis denoting a possible outbreak of reactive arthritis in the Covid-19 period.