Gram Stain Microscopy in Septic Arthritis

The diagnostic utility of gram stain microscopy in paediatric septic arthritis – a retrospective case study

Methods We conducted a retrospective review of all patients of 16 years and under that underwent aspiration with or without washout of suspected septic joint from January 2005 to March 2011. Cases were defined as any patient with an organism identified on microbiology culture. The association between clinical features, laboratory results, operative findings and gram stain examination were compa...

False-Negative Rate of Gram-Stain Microscopy for Diagnosis of Septic Arthritis: Suggestions for Improvement

We quantify the false-negative diagnostic rate of septic arthritis using Gram-stain microscopy of synovial fluid and compare this to values reported in the peer-reviewed literature. We propose a method of improving the diagnostic value of Gram-stain microscopy using Lithium Heparin containers that prevent synovial fluid coagulation. Retrospective study of the Manchester Royal Infirmary microbio...

A fluorescent Gram stain for flow cytometry and epifluorescence microscopy.

The fluorescent nucleic acid binding dyes hexidium iodide (HI) and SYTO 13 were used in combination as a Gram stain for unfixed organisms in suspension. HI penetrated gram-positive but not gram-negative organisms, whereas SYTO 13 penetrated both. When the dyes were used together, gram-negative organisms were rendered green fluorescent by SYTO 13; conversely, gram-positive organisms were rendere...

Gram staining in the diagnosis of acute septic arthritis.

This study aimed at determining the sensitivity and specificity of Gram staining of synovial fluid as a diagnostic tool in acute septic arthritis. A retrospective study was made of 22 patients who had arthroscopic lavage following a provisional diagnosis of acute septic arthritis of the knee joint. Gram stains and cultures of the knee aspirates were compared with the clinical and laboratory par...

The Gram stain.