INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Skin and joint infections Flashcards
What is osteomyelitis?
Inflammation of bone and bone marrow, usually caused by bacterial infections
Most common bacteria causing osteomyelitis?
Staphylococcus aureus
Risk factors for developing osteomyelitis?
Open fractures
Orthopaedic operations - esp w prosthetic joints
DM - esp w diabetic foot ulcers
Peripheral arterial disease
IV drug use
Immunosuppression
Presentation of osteomyelitis?
Fever
Gangrene
Pain and tenderness
Erythema
Swelling
Non-specific - w fever, lethargy, nausea and muscle aches
Investigations to do for suspected osteomyelitis?
MRI - best for establishing dx
XR - not good in early disease. Signs on XR = periosteal reaction, localised osteopenia, destruction of bone
FBC - raised WCC,
CRP, ESR
Blood cultures - causative organism and find abx sensitivity.
Management for osteomyelitis?
Surgical debridement of infected bone and tissues
ABx therapy- 4-6 weeks or 3-6 months in chronic osteomyselitis
If in prosthetic joint = prosthetic replacement surgery.
BNF recommendation for abx therapy of acute osteomyelitis?
6 weeks flucloxacillin +/- Rifampicin or fusidic acid for first 2 weeks
Alternative of flucloxacillin = Clindamycin. If MRSA related = vancomycin or teicoplanin
When is staph aureus likely to cause pneumonia?
After influenza
What causes diabetic foot disease?
secondary to neuropathy and peripheral artery disease
Why is diabetes a RF for peripheal arterial disease?
diabetes is RF for both microvascular and macrovascular ischaemia
Presentation of diabetic foot infection?
Neuropathy: loss of sensation
Ischaemia: lack of foot pulses, reduced ABPI, intermittent claudication
Complications: calluses, ulceration, cellulits, gangrene, osteomyelitis
What is low risk for diabetic foot disease?
No deformity, just calluses alone
What is moderate risk for diabetic foot disease?
deformity or
• neuropathy or
• non-critical limb ischaemia
What is high risk for diabetic foot disease?
- Previous ulceration,
- previous amputation,
- on RRT,
- neuropathy + non-critical limb ischaemia,
- neuropathy + callus AND/OR defomity,
- non-critical limb ischaemia + callus AND/OR deformity
What is ankle brachial pressure index?
ratio of systolic BP in the lower legs to arms
What are the interpretations of ABPI?
> 1.2: may indicate calcified, stiff arteries. This may be seen with advanced age or PAD
- 0 - 1.2: normal
- 9 - 1.0: acceptable
< 0.9: likely PAD. Values < 0.5 indicate severe disease which should be referred urgently
What is charcots arthropathy?
Bones in the foot become weak–> dislocations and fractures–> changes shape of foot/ ankle
Presents with 6Ds- destruction, deformity, degeneration, dislocation, dense bones and debris)
Define Cellulitis
Infection of subcutaeneous tissues and dermis
If cellulitis extends over a joint worry there might be___1____
___2____( ortho infection) may present as cellulitis
If cellulitis extends over a joint worry there might be___septic arthritis____
__Osteomyelitis___(ortho infection) may present as cellulitis
Key in cellulitis is a __1___ in the skins barrier for pathogens to enter.
1 Breakdown
bacteria need a point of entry
Give examples of how skin barrier may be broken to allow bacteria to enter and cause cellulitis
IV drug ucer infection around venepuncture
skin trauma
eczematous skin
fungal nail infections / athletes foot (cracks between toes)
ulcers
Who is susceptible to get cellulitis?
- DM - hyperglyacemia
- DM with Peripheral neuropathy - cant feel trauma
- Obesity - pressure sores/immobility
- IV drug users - infection / abscess around point of injection
- PAD - poor blood flow for healing and tendancy to ulcerate
What systemic features might point to bacteraemia rather than local infection in cellulitis?
fevers
sweats
rigors