Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Septic, or infectious, arthritis is infection of one or more joints by
microorganisms. Normally, the joint is lubricated with a small amount of fluid
that is referred to as synovial fluid or joint fluid. The normal joint fluid is
sterile and, if removed and cultured in the laboratory, no microbes will be
found. With septic arthritis, microbes are identifiable in an affected joint fluid.
Most commonly, septic arthritis affects a single joint, but occasionally more
joints are involved. The joints affected vary somewhat depending on the microbe
causing the infection and the predisposing risk factors of the person affected.
Septic arthritis is also called infectious arthritis.
What microbes cause septic arthritis?
Septic arthritis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The most
common causes of septic arthritis are bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus
and Haemophilus influenzae. In certain "high-risk" individuals, other bacteria
may cause septic arthritis, such as E. coli and Pseudomonas spp. in intravenous
drug abusers and the elderly, Neisseria gonorrhoeae in sexually active young
adults, and Salmonella spp. in young children or in people with sickle cell
disease. Other bacteria that can cause septic arthritis include Mycobacterium
tuberculosis and the spirochete bacterium that causes Lyme disease.
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Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, warmth, swelling, redness and pain. There are over
Coxsackie viruses may be divided into two groups. Type A causes hand, foot, and mouth disease and conjunctivitis, while type B causes pleurodynia. Both
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Salmonella bacteria are known to cause salmonellosis, typhoid fever, and paratyphoid fever in humans. Salmonella infection is usually caused by ingesting
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There are many types of E. coli (Escherichia coli ). Pathogenic E. coli can cause urinary tract and bladder infections, or lead to sepsis. E coli O157:H7
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Mycobacterium marinum (M. marinum) is bacteria found in fresh and saltwater that can infect the skin through cuts or scrapes, causing granulomas to appear
