08-20-2011, 10:42 PM
42. A 34-year-old man presents with a swollen left knee of 2 days' duration. He denies any known trauma to that region and has no prior history of any musculoskeletal complaints. He is in otherwise excellent health. He is homosexual and practices safe sex with a single partner. On physical examination, his knee is swollen, tender to palpation, and erythematous and has a limited range of motion. An arthrocentesis is performed. Which of the following is most suggestive of a septic arthritis in this patient?
a)A complete blood cell count with 14,300 white blood cells per mL
b)A joint fluid aspirate with a white blood cell count of 28,000 per mL
c)A joint fluid aspirate with a white blood cell count of 36,000 per mL
d)A joint fluid aspirate with a white blood cell count of 48,000 per mL
e) A joint fluid aspirate with a white blood cell count of 93,000 per mL