What Is Osteomyelitis?
Osteomyelitis is an inflammation or swelling of bone tissue that is usually the result of an infection. Osteomyelitis, or bone infection, may occur for many different reasons and can affect children or adults. Some of the causes of osteomyelitis include the following: • 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 such as 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 dia
Osteomyelitis is an acute or chronic bone infection. Usually, the original site of infection is elsewhere in the body, and spreads to the bone by the blood. The bone may be predisposed to infection due to recent trauma. In children, the long bones (such as the thigh bones) are usually affected by osteomyelitis. In adults, the vertebrae and the pelvis are most commonly affected by osteomyelitis. Chronic Osteomyelitis Chronic osteomyelitis results when bone tissue dies as a result of the lost blood supply. Chronic infection can go on for years. People who are at risk for developing chronic osteomyelitis are people who have had recent trauma, diabetic patients, hemodialysis patients, and IV drug abuse. Chronic Osteomyelitis is not very common. It occurs about 1 in 5,000 people. Symptoms of Osteomyelitis Some of the most common symptoms of osteomyelitis are: • Pain in the bone • Local swelling • Redness, and warmth • High fever • Nausea • An abscess at the site of infection. Causes of Infe
