Septic arthritis and osteomyelitis are serious disorders in neonates. These disorders in neonate differ from their counterparts in older children. The newborn infant may be less capable of responding to infection owing to immunologic deficiencies. Septic arthritis in the neonate are usually due to a blood borne spread of infection to joints. Because of these conditions and paucity of signs and symptoms, diagnoses are difficult in neonates. The aim of this study was screening bacteriological features of neonatal septic arthritis, signify the clinical and pathological differences between neonates and older children and discuss the treatment of septic arthritis. This retrospective study was carried out at the Hacettepe University İhsan Doğramacı Children’s Hospital. A total of 13 newborn aged between 10 and 29 days were included the study group. We studied to document the etiological, diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic differences of septic arthritis in neonates. We also discuss the literature review with the experience of our neonatal intensive care unit. Early diagnosis and correct treatment of septic arthrit in neonate is very important in regards to morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: newborn, septic arthrit, treatment protocol