Clinical characteristics and outcomes in polyarticular septic arthritis

In this sample of patients with septic arthritis, patients with septic polyarthritis were more likely to have systemic infection at presentation than those with septic monoarthritis. Despite this difference, patients with septic monoarthritis and polyarthritis tended to have similar outcomes. While rheumatoid arthritis was observed more frequently among patients with septic polyarthritis, those with/without underlying rheumatoid arthritis had similar presenting features and outcomes.