How does osteomyelitis occur

If you've been told that you have an increased risk of infection, talk to your doctor about ways to prevent infections from occurring. Reducing your risk of infection will also help your risk of developing osteomyelitis. In general, take precautions to avoid cuts, scrapes and animal scratches or bites, which give germs easy access to your body.

If you or your child has a minor injury, clean the area immediately and apply a clean bandage. Check wounds frequently for signs of infection. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Osteomyelitis is an infection in a bone. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Ferri FF. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed Oct. Azar FM, et al. In: Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. Merck Manual Professional Version.

Osteomyelitis is more common in younger children five and under but can happen at any age. Boys are usually more affected than girls. Antibiotics are often prescribed to treat osteomyelitis. Surgery may also be recommended in certain cases. Osteomyelitis is an inflammation or swelling of bone tissue that is usually the result of an infection.

Bone infection may occur for many different reasons and can affect children or adults. Osteomyelitis may occur as a result of a bacterial bloodstream infection, sometimes called bacteremia, or sepsis, that spreads to the bone. This type is most common in infants and children and usually affects their long bones like the femur thighbone or humerus upper arm bone. When osteomyelitis affects adults, it often involves the vertebral bones along the spinal column.

The source of the blood infection is usually Staphylococcus aureus , although it may be caused by a different type of bacteria or fungal organism. Osteomyelitis can also occur from a nearby infection due to a traumatic injury, frequent medication injections, a surgical procedure or use of a prosthetic device. In addition, individuals with diabetes who develop foot ulcers are more susceptible. In any of these situations, the organism has a direct portal of entry into the affected bone.

Individuals with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop osteomyelitis. This includes people with sickle cell disease or HIV or those receiving immunosuppressive medications like chemotherapy or steroids. Osteomyelitis can have a sudden onset, a slow and mild onset or may be a chronic problem, depending on the source of the infection. In children, the long bones of the arms or legs are most often involved. In adults, the feet, spine bones vertebrae , and hips pelvis are most commonly affected.

The health care provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms. The exam may show bone tenderness and possible swelling and redness in the area around the bone. The goal of treatment is to get rid of the infection and reduce damage to the bone and surrounding tissues. Infection that occurs after joint replacement may require surgery. This is done to remove the replaced joint and infected tissue in the area.

A new prosthesis may be implanted in the same operation. More often, doctors wait until the antibiotic course is finished and the infection has gone away. If you have diabetes, it will need to be well controlled.

If there are problems with blood supply to the infected area, such as the foot, surgery may be needed to improve blood flow in order to get rid of the infection. The outlook is worse for those with long-term chronic osteomyelitis. Symptoms may come and go for years, even with surgery. Amputation may be needed, especially in people with diabetes or poor blood circulation.

Infections of bursae, joints, and bones. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Bone and joint infections. URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit.