Infections of bones and joints Flashcards
What is the medical term for infection of bone?
Osteomyelitis
Is antibiotic treatment sufficient for treatment of osteomyelitis?
If infections is serious, surgery is often needed too
What is the most common presenting symptom of osteomyelitis?
Pain - resting pain which is progressive, usually quite localised (ie not mechanical pain)
What is the most common causative organism of osteomyelitis?
Staphylococcus Aureus
Staphylococcus aureus, most commonly causes osteomyelitis by what spread?
Haematogenous
What are the 5 other common causative organsism of osteomyelitis?
1) Streptococci - group A and B
2) Enterococci
3) Gram negative bacilli
4) Anaerobes
5) Mycobacterium TB, Brucella Spp
What kind of infection does mycobacterium TB tend to cause?
Indolent osteomyelitis of the spine
What is the gold standard diagnostic tool in osteomyelitis?
Cultures and histology of bone biopsy/needle aspirate
Is blood cultures a reliable diagnostic method in osteomyelitis?
About 50% accuracy but avoids need for biopsy
Could superifical swabs be used in diagnosing osteomyelitis?
Have a limited value in contiguous infections
What is the therapy for osteomyelitis?
Antimicrobials +/- surgery depending on stage/site
What are the 3 pathogenic mechanisms of osteomyelitis?
1) Haematogenous - bacteria in the blood seed bone
2) Contiguous factors - spread from adjacent areas of infection
3) Direct inoculation - trauma or surgery
If a patient had a infected diabetic foot ulcer leading to osteomyelitis of the foot, what would be the pathogenic mechanism?
Contiguous spread
What are the 4 classifications of osteomyelitis?
1) Stage 1 - medullary
2) Stage 2 - superficial
3) Stage 3 - Localised
4) Stage 4 - diffuse
What is meant by stage 1 medullary osteomyelitis?
Necrosis of the medullary contents, trabecula bone, cortical bone and periosteum unaffected
What is meant by stage 2 superficial osteomyelitis?
Periosteum is interrupted, necrosis limited to the exposed surface
Stage 1 osteomyelitis is likely to occur by what spread?
Haematogenous
Stage 2 osteomyelitis is likely to occur by what spread?
Contiguous
What is stage 3 localised osteomyelitis?
Full thickness infection, get cortical sequestration (island of cortical bone, now with no blood supply) so cant deliver Abx to that part via the blood stream
What is stage 4 diffuse osteomyelitis?
Get extensive infection of all parts with unstable bone