Are there any peculiarities about septic arthritis in IV drug abusers?
1. Higher incidence of Gram-negative organisms, especially Pseudomonas and Serratia. However, S. aureus is the most common organism.
2. More insidious course with longer duration of symptoms.
3. Increased propensity to affect the axial skeleton (especially the lumbar vertebrae, sacroiliac joint, symphysis pubis, ischium, sternoclavicular, and sternocostal joints).