Health Encyclopedia

Osteomyelitis

Definition

Osteomyelitis is a bone infection. It is mainly caused by bacteria or other germs.

Alternative Names

Bone infection

Causes

Bone infection is most often caused by bacteria. But it can also be caused by fungi or other germs. When a person has osteomyelitis:

Bacteria or other germs may spread to a bone from infected skin, muscles, or tendons next to the bone. This may occur under a skin sore.
The infection can start in another part of the body and spread to the bone through the blood.
The infection can also start after bone surgery. This is more likely if the surgery is done after an injury or if metal rods or plates are placed in the bone.

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.

Risk factors are:

Diabetes
Hemodialysis
Poor blood supply
Recent injury
Use of injected illicit drugs
Surgery involving bones
Weakened immune system

Symptoms

Symptoms of osteomyelitis are not specific and vary with age. Main symptoms include:

Bone pain
Excessive sweating
Fever and chills
General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
Local swelling, redness, and warmth
Open wound that may show pus
Pain at the site of infection

Exams and Tests

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.

Tests may include:

Blood cultures
Bone biopsy (the sample is cultured and examined under a microscope)
Bone scan
Bone x-ray
Complete blood count (CBC)
C-reactive protein (CRP)
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
MRI of the bone
Needle aspiration of the area of the affected bones

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to get rid of the infection and reduce damage to the bone and surrounding tissues.

Antibiotics are given to destroy the bacteria causing the infection:

You may receive more than one antibiotic at a time.
Antibiotics are taken for at least 4 to 6 weeks, often at home through an IV (intravenously, meaning through a vein).

Surgery may be needed to remove dead bone tissue if the above methods fail:

If there are metal plates near the infection, they may need to be removed.
The open space left by the removed bone tissue may be filled with bone graft or packing material. This promotes resolution of the infection.

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.

Outlook (Prognosis)

With treatment, the outcome for acute osteomyelitis is often good.

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.

The outlook for people with an infection of a prosthesis depends partly on:

The person's health
The type of infection
Whether the infected prosthesis can be safely removed

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider if you:

Develop symptoms of osteomyelitis
Have osteomyelitis that continues even with treatment

References

Matteson EL, Osmon DR. Infections of bursae, joints, and bones. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 256.

Raukar NP, Zink BJ. Bone and joint infections. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 128.

Tande AJ, Steckelberg JM, Osmon DR, Berbari EF. Osteomyelitis. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 104.

Review Date:3/10/2022
Reviewed By:Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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