The Influence of microorganisms on changes in laboratory characteristics of synovial fluid

Aim and objectives. To determine the influence of isolated microorganisms on changes in laboratory characteristics of synovial fluid. In order to achieve the objectives were set these goals: 1.Determine the spectrum and frequency of microorganisms isolated from the synovial fluid. 2.To evaluate changes in laboratory characteristics of synovial fluid. 3.Determine the coherence between the laboratory characteristics of synovial fluid and the isolated microorganisms. Materials and methods. The study analysed 159 patients: 90 (56.6 percent) women and 69 (43.4 percent) men. Patients ranged in age from 18 to 93 years (mean age 62.28±17.07 years). Women’s average age was 66.93±15.75 and men 56.21±16.92 years, p<0.001. For all patients were performed microbiological testing of synovial fluid and synovial fluid analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0 for Windows and Microsoft Office Excel 2016 statistical software packages. The Chi-Square test of independence was used to determine if there was a significant relationship between two nominal variables. Fisher's exact test was applied only in analysis of small samples. The statistically significant difference between the groups was defined if the significance level was p <0.05. Results. The study included 159 patients (90 women and 69 men). The study involved older women than men, p <0.001. In synovial fluid microorganisms (bacteria) grew up by 30.8 (49/159) percent of patients. In synovial fluid bacteria growth was equal among both women and men (p=0.927). There was no difference of age between patients with bacterial growth and non-growth 64.15±16.31 and 61.45±17.41, p=0.499, respectively. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci with other gram-positive bacteria were most commonly isolated among patients with septic arthritis, followed by S. aureus – 46.9 (23/49) and 38.8 (14/49) percent, respectively. Beta-haemolytic streptococci, Enterobacteriaceae family, Pseudomonas aeruginosa were less commonly found by 6.1 (3/49), 6.1 (3/49) and 2.0 (1/49) percent of patients. Assessing changes in synovial fluid in patients, depending on whether the bacteria grew up or not, increased number of leukocytes, increased number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and greater PMN% was observed compared to those patients without detected bacteria (p