Septic bursitis, olecranon, prepatellar

Absence of pain with joint movement may help differentiate septic bursitis from septic arthritis.

 
Recommend:
  • Blood cultures if systemically ill.
  • Baseline and follow-up x-rays to rule out bone or joint involvement.
  • Aspirate fluid initially for drainage and C&S, and aspirate daily until fluid sterile and no longer accumulating.

- For chronic bursitis consider mycobacterial infection; send fluid or tissue for mycobacterial culture.

- In patients who fail to respond to antibiotic therapy and percutaneous drainage, surgical drainage and/or bursectomy may be required.

 
Usual Pathogens

S. aureus/MRSA
Group A Streptococci

Mild

Empiric Therapy

Dose

Duration
Cephalexin 500mg PO qid

2-3 weeks

Cephalexin allergy

Empiric Therapy

Dose

Duration
Cefuroxime axetil 500mg PO bid 2-3 weeks

MRSA suspected

Empiric Therapy Dose Duration
Add to above regimens:
   
TMP/SMX 2 DS tabs PO bid

2-3 weeks

or    
Doxycycline 100mg PO bid 2-3 weeks

Moderate-severe

Empiric Therapy

Dose

Duration
Cefazolin 2g IV q8h

2-3 weeks

or    
Cloxacillin 2g IV q4h

2-3 weeks

Cefazolin allergy/MRSA suspected

Empiric Therapy

Dose

Duration
Vancomycin 15mg/kg IV q12h

2-3 weeks