A 51-year-old woman presented with an acutely painful elbow since the previous evening. There skin over the elbow was warm and red, but there was only slight fluctuation. To obtain fluid for bacterial culture, the bursa is squeezed from the sides to make the fluid collection thicker (ultrasonography demonstrates the fluid). After careful cleansing of the skin, the needle is inserted slowly while maintaining light suction. In this case the needle is first inserted too deep and no fluid is found. After pulling the needle backwards a small amount of fluid is finally obtained. The number of leukocytes in the fluid was 6000×106/l, and Staphylococcus aureus grew in the culture. The treatment consisted of two intravenous doses of cefuroxime followed by oral cephalexin for 10 days.
Septic bursitis of the elbow - aspiration for bacterial culture