Can knee joint effusion be treated with penicillin?

Generally, for intravenous antibiotic therapy, penicillins commonly used include Benzathine Penicillin for injection, Spectinomycin Hydrochloride for injection, and Amoxicillin Sodium and Clavulanate Potassium for injection. Whether penicillin can be administered intravenously for knee joint effusion depends on the specific cause of the effusion. If the effusion is caused by bacterial infection, intravenous penicillin is usually appropriate. However, if the effusion is not caused by bacterial infection, intravenous penicillin is generally not recommended. If symptoms persist, timely medical consultation is advised. Detailed analysis is as follows:

Penicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic effective against various bacterial infections. When knee joint effusion is caused by pyogenic bacterial infections, such as those resulting in septic arthritis due to Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus species, intravenous penicillin is typically an effective treatment. These bacteria are mostly sensitive to penicillin, which inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis, thereby exerting bactericidal effects.

If knee joint effusion is caused by non-bacterial factors such as trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoarthritis, intravenous penicillin will not provide therapeutic benefits, as there is no infectious component involved. In such cases, intravenous penicillin is not an appropriate treatment. Instead, corresponding treatment measures should be adopted based on the specific cause, such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatory treatment, or joint aspiration.

Prior to intravenous administration of penicillin, a skin test must be performed to determine whether the patient is allergic to penicillin.