Nongonococcal septic arthritis at a major teaching hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Twenty five (25) consecutive cases of nongonococcal septic arthritis admitted to King Khalid University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were mostly adults (64%) and Staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacterial species isolated (69%). Predisposing factors were identified in 52% of patients, including diabetes mellitus in seven patients, pre-existing joint disease in two patients and the infection followed intra-articular steroid injections in two patients. All patients were treated with appropriate antibiotics; however, 11 (44%) patients were left with permanent joint damage.