The bursa is tender and may have significant swelling and signs of infection. The location of the swelling and the lack of pain on joint movement help differentiate prepatellar bursitis from septic arthritis of the knee. Turbid fluid containing leukocytes and organisms is obtained on aspiration. The usual infecting organism is Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. Drainage provides some symptom relief, but appropriate antibiotic therapy is required in dosages sufficient to penetrate the bursa.
Antibiotic therapy is usually necessary for up to three weeks to control infection.
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