Reactive arthritis triggers commonly include which organism?

Reactive arthritis triggers commonly include which organism?

• A. Chlamydia trachomatis
• B. Staph aureus
• C. Streptococcus pneumoniae
• D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Answer: (A)

Reactive arthritis is an autoimmune joint inflammation that follows certain infections, rather than being caused by a direct joint infection. It most commonly follows genitourinary infection with Chlamydia trachomatis or gastrointestinal infections with organisms like Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, or Yersinia. Chlamydia trachomatis is a classic trigger because many patients develop arthritis after a GU infection with this organism, sometimes even if the GU infection is mild or asymptomatic. The other organisms listed are typically linked to septic arthritis, where the pathogen directly invades the joint, rather than a post-infectious reactive process. Therefore, Chlamydia trachomatis best fits as a trigger for reactive arthritis.

Reactive arthritis is an autoimmune joint inflammation that follows certain infections, rather than being caused by a direct joint infection. It most commonly follows genitourinary infection with Chlamydia trachomatis or gastrointestinal infections with organisms like Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, or Yersinia. Chlamydia trachomatis is a classic trigger because many patients develop arthritis after a GU infection with this organism, sometimes even if the GU infection is mild or asymptomatic.

The other organisms listed are typically linked to septic arthritis, where the pathogen directly invades the joint, rather than a post-infectious reactive process. Therefore, Chlamydia trachomatis best fits as a trigger for reactive arthritis.