If you suspect that you have a knee infection, it is essential to seek medical attention right away. Severe and sudden joint pain should not be ignored, as it can lead to damage of the knee joint. Knee infections are serious and require prompt and often aggressive treatment. In most cases, infections that spread within the knee joint require surgical intervention, while infections around the joint may also need surgery.The bursa located above the kneecap can become infected.
If you have a fever in addition to pain and swelling in your knee, contact your doctor immediately. In some cases, a separate infection such as a stomach virus can cause an autoimmune reaction that leads to knee pain. The most serious infections occur inside the knee joint, where the body's immune system is unable to fight off the infection.Trauma to the knee joint due to an animal bite, puncture wound, or existing skin infection can cause this type of knee infection. Although rare, infections after most knee surgical procedures such as knee arthroscopy can occur.
