many organisms may infect the knee. gonorrhea a common sexually transmitted disease can infect the knee as can common organisms residing on normal skin. infection of the knee causes painful knee swelling. in addition people who develop such infection typically complain of fevers and chills. less severe infections may not have associated fevers or cause this ill feeling. new swelling and pain in the knee must be evaluated for infection based on your doctor’s opinion. treatment usually includes intensive antibiotic therapy and may include aspiration of the joint or surgical drainage of the infection.
what is an infection (or infectious arthritis) of the knee and how is it treated?