Annals of the rheumatic diseases
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Four patients with osteoarthritis of the hip, who developed septic arthritis of the affected joint, are reported. The septic arthritis developed insidiously and was diagnosed with difficulty. ⋯ These cases suggest that osteoarthritis, similarly, is a predisposing factor. It is concluded that joint sepsis should be considered if a patient with osteoarthritis develops new symptoms from a single joint with associated systemic features.