Osteomyelitis

What is
osteomyelitis?


Osteomyelitis is infection in the bone. Osteomyelitis can

occur in infants,
children, and adults. Different types of bacteria typically

 affect the
different age groups. In children, osteomyelitis most commonly occurs at the

ends of the long
bones of the arms and legs, affecting

 the
hips, knees, shoulders, and wrists. In adults, it is more common in the bones of
the spine (vertebrae) or in the pelvis.



What causes osteomyelitis?



There are several different ways to develop osteomyelitis.

 The first is
for bacteria to travel through the bloodstream (bacteremia) and spread

to the bone,
causing an infection. This most often occurs when the patient has an infection
elsewhere in the body,

 such as
pneumonia or a urinary tract infection, that spreads through the blood to the
bone.



An open wound over a bone can lead to osteomyelitis. An open fracture where the
bone

 punctures
through the skin is also a potential cause.



A recent surgery or injection around a bone can also expose the bone to bacteria
and lead to osteomyelitis.



Patients with conditions or taking medications that

weaken their immune
system are at a higher risk

of developing
osteomyelitis. These include patients with cancer, chronic steroid use, sickle
cell disease,

 human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), diabetes, hemodialysis, intravenous drug users,
and the elderly.