Definition OSTEOMYELITIS - (osteo- derived from the Greek word osteon, meaning bone, myelo- meaning marrow, and

-itis meaning inflammation) simply means an infection of the bone or bone marrow. It can be usefully subclassified on the basis of the causative organism (pyogenic bacteria or mycobacteria), the route, duration and anatomic location of the infection. Cause In most cases, a bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus, a type of staph bacteria, causes osteomyelitis. Who Gets Osteomyelitis? Only two out of every 10,000 people get osteomyelitis. The condition affects children and adults, although in different ways. Certain conditions and behaviors that weaken the immune system increase a person's risk for osteomyelitis, including: Diabetes (most cases of osteomyelitis stem from diabetes) Sickle cell disease HIV or AIDS Rheumatoid arthritis Intravenous drug use Alcoholism Long-term use of steroids Bone surgery, including hip and knee replacements; also increase the chance for infection to invade a bone. Symptoms of Osteomyelitis Acute osteomyelitis develops rapidly over a period of seven to 10 days. The symptoms for acute and chronic osteomyelitis are very similar and include: Fever, irritability, fatigue Nausea Tenderness and swelling around the affected bone Lost range of motion Osteomyelitis in the vertebrae makes itself known through severe back pain, especially at night. Preventing osteomyelitis It is not always possible to avoiding getting osteomyelitis, but there are steps you can take to reduce your chances. Cleaning wounds thoroughly with water and dressing them in a clean bandage will reduce your chances of getting an infection from an injury. Improving your general health will help reduce the risk of developing osteomyelitis or another condition that causes high blood pressure or a weakened immune system.

Introduction Osteomyelitis is a local or generalized pyogenic disease of the bone marrow and surrounding tissue. In children, the disease usually results from untreated acute hematogenous osteomyelitis. Chronic osteomyelitis may also be seen after traumatic injuries, especially in times of civil unrest or war, or as a complication of surgical procedures such as open reduction and internal fixation of fractures. The longbones are affected most commonly, and the femur and tibia account for approximately half of the cases. Predisposing factors include poor hygiene, anemia, malnutrition, and a coexisting infectious disease burden (parasites, mycobacteria, acquired autoimmune deficiency syndrome), or any other factors that decrease immune function. Chronic osteomyelitis is defined by the presence of residual foci of infection (avascular bone and soft tissue debris), which give rise to recurrent episodes of clinical infection. Eradication of the infection is difficult, and complications associated with both the infection and their treatments are frequent.