How is osteomyelitis spread

However, they may be normal in early stages of the infection. Magnetic resonance imaging MRI or bone scans may be recommended to identify the cause of bone pain or inflammation. Computed tomography CT scans can be helpful in later stages of osteomyelitis. Finally, bone aspirations or biopsies are useful in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis and to determine the most appropriate treatment. In children, these procedures are most often done in the operating room under general anesthesia.

The goal for treatment of osteomyelitis is to cure the infection and minimize any long-term complications. Treatment may include:. Administration of intravenous IV antibiotics , which may require hospitalization or may be given on an outpatient schedule. Intravenous or oral antibiotic treatment for osteomyelitis may be very extensive, lasting for many weeks.

It is important for the patient to continue to take antibiotics for as long as recommended by the treatment team, even after symptoms of the infection have resolved. In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to drain infectious fluid, or to remove damaged tissue and bone.

Osteomyelitis requires long-term care to prevent further complications, including care to prevent the following:. And, as with many infections, parents and kids should wash their hands well and often to stop the spread of germs.

Kids also should have their vaccinations kept up to date. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Osteomyelitis?

Kids with osteomyelitis often feel pain in the infected bone. They also might: have a fever and chills feel tired or nauseated generally not feel well have sore, red, and swollen skin above the infected bone Very young children might stop using the infected limb and protect it from being touched. What Causes Osteomyelitis? Bacteria can infect bones in a few ways. For instance: Bacteria can travel into the bone through the bloodstream from other infected areas in the body.

This is called hematogenous heh-meh-TAH-gen-us osteomyelitis. It's the most common way that kids get bone infections. A direct infection can happen when bacteria enter a wound and travel to the bone like after an injury or surgery. Open fractures — breaks in the bone with the skin also open — are the injuries that most often develop osteomyelitis. Sometimes the bacteria can spread from a nearby infection.

For example, an untreated infection in skin or a joint can spread to the bone. However, results that show little or no inflammation may suggest a person does not have osteomyelitis.

An x-ray X-rays A doctor can often diagnose a musculoskeletal disorder based on the history and the results of a physical examination. Laboratory tests, imaging tests, or other diagnostic procedures are sometimes If x-ray results are unclear or if symptoms are severe, computed tomography Computed tomography CT and magnetic resonance imaging MRI A doctor can often diagnose a musculoskeletal disorder based on the history and the results of a physical examination.

CT and MRI can identify the infected areas or joints and reveal nearby infections such as abscesses. Alternatively, a bone scan Bone scanning A doctor can often diagnose a musculoskeletal disorder based on the history and the results of a physical examination. The infected area almost always appears abnormal on bone scans, except in infants because scans do not reliably indicate abnormalities in growing bones.

However, a bone scan cannot always distinguish infections from other bone disorders. White blood cell scans images made after radioactive indium—labeled white blood cells are injected into a vein can help distinguish between infection and other disorders in areas that are abnormal on bone scans. To diagnose a bone infection and identify the organisms causing it, doctors may take samples of blood, pus, joint fluid, or the bone itself to test.

Usually, for vertebral osteomyelitis, samples of bone tissue are removed with a needle or during surgery. The prognosis for people with osteomyelitis is usually good with early and proper treatment. However, sometimes chronic osteomyelitis develops, and a bone abscess may return weeks to months or even years later. For children and adults who have recently developed bone infections through the bloodstream, antibiotics are the most effective treatment. If the bacteria causing the infection cannot be identified, then antibiotics that are effective against Staphylococcus aureus and many types of bacteria broad-spectrum antibiotics are used.

Depending on the severity of the infection, antibiotics may be given by vein intravenously for about 4 to 8 weeks. Then, antibiotics may be continued by mouth for a longer period of time depending on how the person responds to them. Some people have chronic osteomyelitis and need months of antibiotic treatment. If a fungal infection is identified or suspected, antifungal drugs are required for several months.

If the infection is detected at an early stage, surgery is usually not necessary. For adults who have bacterial osteomyelitis of the vertebrae, the usual treatment is antibiotics for 4 to 8 weeks. Sometimes bed rest is needed, and the person may need to wear a brace. Surgery may be needed to drain abscesses or to stabilize affected vertebrae to prevent the vertebrae from collapsing and thereby damaging nearby nerves, the spinal cord, or blood vessels.

When osteomyelitis results from a nearby soft-tissue infection, treatment is more complex. Usually, all the dead tissue and bone are removed surgically, and the resulting empty space is packed with healthy skin or other tissue.

Then the infection is treated with antibiotics. Broad-spectrum antibiotics may be required for more than 3 weeks after surgery.

When an abscess is present, it usually needs to be drained surgically. Surgery may also be needed for people with persistent fever and weight loss. The following English-language resource may be useful. Learn more about A. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.

A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright A. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Access myPennMedicine For Patients and Visitors. Patient Information. Conditions Treated A-Z. Bone Infection Osteomyelitis.

What is Bone Infection Osteomyelitis? Definition Osteomyelitis is a bone infection.