Abstract
Bacteria have been implicated in the pathogenesis of many types of inflammatory arthritides. The aim of this study was to identify any bacterial DNA in synovial fluid (SF) from patients with a range of inflammatory arthritides. A highly sensitive, broad-range, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was designed and applied to SF from 65 patients with a range of rheumatic diseases. Bacterial DNA was detected in 26 SF samples, including eight from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and five with juvenile arthritides. PCR products were identified by sequencing and searching of bacterial genomic databases; 'best fits' included Haemophilus influenzae, Bordetella and Yersinia. These finding suggest an association between bacterial infection and inflammatory arthritides in some patients. Further research is required to determine the role of these organisms in the pathogenesis and whether such patients might respond to prolonged antibiotic therapy.
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