Septic bursitis, olecranon, prepatellar

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

• 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.

S. aureus/MRSA
Group A Streptococci

Mild

Cephalexin allergy

MRSA suspected

Moderate-severe

Cefazolin allergy/MRSA suspected