化脓性关节炎是由微生物病原体在关节内的感染而引起的，可直接感染或通过血液途径浸染。化脓性关节炎的主要致病微生物为葡萄球菌或链球菌。[3]Weston VC, Jones AC, Bradbury N, et al. Clinical features and outcome of septic arthritis in a single UK health district 1982-1991. Ann Rheum Dis. 1999;58:214-219.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1752863/pdf/v058p00214.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10364899?tool=bestpractice.com[4]Gupta MN, Sturrock RD, Field M. A prospective 2-year study of 75 patients with adult-onset septic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2001;40:24-30.http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/40/1/24http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11157138?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Gupta MN, Sturrock RD, Field M. Prospective comparative study of patients with culture proven and high suspicion of adult onset septic arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2003;62:327-331.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1754487/pdf/v062p00327.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12634231?tool=bestpractice.com[2]Kaandorp CJ, Dinant HJ, van de Laar MA, et al. Incidence and sources of native and prosthetic joint infection: a community based prospective survey. Ann Rheum Dis. 1997;56:470-475.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1752430/pdf/v056p00470.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9306869?tool=bestpractice.com[6]Dubost JJ, Soubrier M, De Champs C, et al. No changes in the distribution of organisms responsible for septic arthritis over a 20 year period. Ann Rheum Dis. 2002;61:267-269.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1754020/pdf/v061p00267.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11830437?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Sharp JT, Lidsky MD, Duffy J, et al. Infectious arthritis. Arch Intern Med. 1979;139:1125-1130.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/485744?tool=bestpractice.com 约91%的病例是由它们引起。[4]Gupta MN, Sturrock RD, Field M. A prospective 2-year study of 75 patients with adult-onset septic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2001;40:24-30.http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/40/1/24http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11157138?tool=bestpractice.com
化脓性关节炎发生的危险因素包括类风湿性关节炎或骨关节炎、[3]Weston VC, Jones AC, Bradbury N, et al. Clinical features and outcome of septic arthritis in a single UK health district 1982-1991. Ann Rheum Dis. 1999;58:214-219.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1752863/pdf/v058p00214.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10364899?tool=bestpractice.com[4]Gupta MN, Sturrock RD, Field M. A prospective 2-year study of 75 patients with adult-onset septic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2001;40:24-30.http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/40/1/24http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11157138?tool=bestpractice.com[2]Kaandorp CJ, Dinant HJ, van de Laar MA, et al. Incidence and sources of native and prosthetic joint infection: a community based prospective survey. Ann Rheum Dis. 1997;56:470-475.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1752430/pdf/v056p00470.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9306869?tool=bestpractice.com[6]Dubost JJ, Soubrier M, De Champs C, et al. No changes in the distribution of organisms responsible for septic arthritis over a 20 year period. Ann Rheum Dis. 2002;61:267-269.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1754020/pdf/v061p00267.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11830437?tool=bestpractice.com关节假体、[4]Gupta MN, Sturrock RD, Field M. A prospective 2-year study of 75 patients with adult-onset septic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2001;40:24-30.http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/40/1/24http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11157138?tool=bestpractice.com[2]Kaandorp CJ, Dinant HJ, van de Laar MA, et al. Incidence and sources of native and prosthetic joint infection: a community based prospective survey. Ann Rheum Dis. 1997;56:470-475.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1752430/pdf/v056p00470.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9306869?tool=bestpractice.com静脉药物滥用、[4]Gupta MN, Sturrock RD, Field M. A prospective 2-year study of 75 patients with adult-onset septic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2001;40:24-30.http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/40/1/24http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11157138?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Sharp JT, Lidsky MD, Duffy J, et al. Infectious arthritis. Arch Intern Med. 1979;139:1125-1130.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/485744?tool=bestpractice.com酗酒、[7]Sharp JT, Lidsky MD, Duffy J, et al. Infectious arthritis. Arch Intern Med. 1979;139:1125-1130.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/485744?tool=bestpractice.com 糖尿病、[7]Sharp JT, Lidsky MD, Duffy J, et al. Infectious arthritis. Arch Intern Med. 1979;139:1125-1130.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/485744?tool=bestpractice.com既往关节内注射皮质类固醇[8]Meijers KA, Dijkmans BA, Hermans J, et al. Non-gonococcal infectious arthritis: a retrospective study. J Infect. 1987;14:13-20.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3819454?tool=bestpractice.com以及皮肤溃疡。[2]Kaandorp CJ, Dinant HJ, van de Laar MA, et al. Incidence and sources of native and prosthetic joint infection: a community based prospective survey. Ann Rheum Dis. 1997;56:470-475.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1752430/pdf/v056p00470.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9306869?tool=bestpractice.com
在性活跃患者中，应怀疑淋球菌性关节炎的可能。较之年轻人，革兰氏阴性菌在老年人和免疫力低下人群中更为常见，但葡萄球菌和链球菌仍占主要地位。厌氧菌很少引起化脓性关节炎，穿透伤除外。[9]Brook I, Frazier EH. Anaerobic osteomyelitis and arthritis in a military hospital: a 10-year experience. Am J Med. 1993;94:21-28.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8420297?tool=bestpractice.com
社区相关金黄色葡萄球菌 (MRSA) 在世界许多地方愈加常见，对于近期出院患者、疗养院居住者、腿部溃疡以及留置导尿管的患者应怀疑MRSA的可能。
免疫力低下人群以及来自结核流行区域的患者应怀疑结核性关节炎的可能。
