Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone and can occur throughout the body. It is a rare but serious condition. Bones can become infected when infection spreads from one part of the body into the bone, or an open fracture exposes bone to outside contaminants.

Staphylococcus aureus, a type of staph bacteria is the most common cause of osteomyelitis.

Certain conditions such as diabetes, sickle cell disease, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, IV drug use, alcoholism, long-term steroid use, or bone surgery (including hip and knee replacement) may increase your risk of infection.

Osteomyelitis can be either acute or chronic. People with diabetes, HIV, or peripheral vascular disease are more prone to chronic osteomyelitis, which persists or recurs, despite treatment.

Acute osteomyelitis develops rapidly over a period of 7 to 10 days. The symptoms for acute and chronic osteomyelitis are very similar and include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Irritability
• Lost range of motion
• Nausea
• Tenderness and swelling around the affected bone
• Osteomyelitis in the vertebrae makes itself known through severe back pain, especially at night.

Diagnosing osteomyelitis is the first step in treatment and can be difficult. Doctors rely on X-rays, blood tests, and bone scans to get a picture of what's going on. They also need to determine the type of organism, typically bacteria, causing the infection so they can prescribe the right medication. Most people with osteomyelitis are treated with antibiotics, surgery, or both. Antibiotics fight the infection and often make it possible to avoid surgery. People with osteomyelitis usually get antibiotics for several weeks through an IV, followed by oral treatment.

More serious or chronic osteomyelitis requires surgery to remove the infected tissue and bone. Osteomyelitis surgery prevents the infection from spreading further in the hopes of avoiding amputation as a last resort.

The best way to prevent osteomyelitis is to keep things clean. Keep cuts and injuries clean, especially a deep cut, wash it completely. Flush out any open wound under running water for five minutes, then bandage it in sterile bandages.

If you have chronic osteomyelitis, make sure your doctor knows about your medical history so you can work together to keep the condition under control. If you have diabetes, always pay close attention to your feet and contact your doctor at the first sign of infection. Treating osteomyelitis quickly will provide the best chance for recovery.