CRP and infectious disease: Though the use of a laboratory measure, such as CRP in both the prediction algorithm and as a factor in the determination of a final diagnosis by Infectious Disease and Orthopedic Services may be seen as a limitation, the final diagnoses were made after careful consideration of trends in the patient symptoms, clinical signs, and laboratory values over time, in the face of various treatment modalities, such as observation with or without anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotic treatment, and irrigation of the knee joint.