The distinctions between infection, chronic arthritis, and autoimmune diseases have steadily blurred over the past decades. The proposed pathomechanisms underlying these interesting associations include putative pathways from infection to innate and adaptive immunity, molecular mimicry, and certain microbial and host factors. This article further reviews the spectrum of microbial agents implicated in some rheumatic diseases and cites the potential clinical application of this expanding field of knowledge in the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
