Infection In The Bone: Symptoms And Treatment For Osteomyelitis

Infection In The Bone: Symptoms And Treatment For Osteomyelitis . Infection in bone is called osteomyelitis. It can occur at any age and in any person. It can affect any bone in the body, but usually long bones, spinal bones are common site of affection. Infection in bones can be in acute form or in chronic nature; both have devastating effect if not treated in time. Osteomyelitis can lead to permanent deformity.

Children are more likely to have acute osteomyelitis whereas adults can have both acute as well as chronic osteomyelitis. Treatment of oteomyelitis can last long. Heavy dose of antibiotics are usually given to the patient to curb and treat the infection.

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Surgical removal of the dead tissue and drainage of abscess is another option when the infection is not controlled with antibacterial medications.

What Causes Bone Infection?

• Infection in bones can occur in two ways. The causative germs, mostly bacteria can enter into the bones if there is an injury such as an open fracture, sharp penetrating wound or even a contaminated soft tissue injury.
• Infection in bones can also occur from an infection anywhere else in the body. The germs may travel through the blood and gets lodged somewhere in the bones. This type of infection in bones is called hematogenous osteomyelitis.
  
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• Infection in bones sometimes may also occur after an orthopedic surgery.
• There is risk of developing infection in bones if the person is diabetic and has skin infection in feet.
• The commonest organism isolated from bone infection is staphylococcus aureus. It is present in adults as well as children. Other microbial organisms are group A and B streptococci. Salmonella, E coli, H influenza are few other pathogens which may cause osteomyelitis.
• Though it is rare, on some occasions fungus infection can also lead to osteomyelitis.
• Tuberculosis of bones, mainly the spine is caused due to mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Symptoms Of Osteomyelitis

Infection in bones can be classified in two forms, acute and chronic. In acute infection of bone, there is high fever, chill, pain in the affected region of the bone as well as swelling. Fever is the earliest symptom of bone infection preceded by bone pain. Patient finds difficulty in moving the affected bony area.

Backache is common if there is infection in vertebra. The area becomes warm and tender. Generalized weakness, vomiting are few other symptoms commonly observed in acute cases of bone infection. In some cases of osteomyelitis, the wound remains open and draining.

In chronic osteomyelitis, the most prominent symptom is pain in the affected site. Chronic osteomyelitis can persist for months and years. At times, there will be no symptoms that may be experienced or they may be in milder form.

Other symptoms are general weakness, drainage of fluid and pus from the deep seated open wound. In few patients, there may be loss of weight. It is possible in tuberculosis of bone.

Bone Infection Treatment

If there is an acute infection in bone, it requires prompt treatment. Generally the patient is advised to take bed rest. He is administered intravenous antibiotics. Most of the time patient needs to be hospitalized if he has acute bone infection. Doctors may do several diagnostic tests if they suspect osteomyelitis. This may include blood tests, X-ray of the bone, MRI or CT scan of the bone etc. They may also do culture and sensitivity of pus which may help to kill the pathogens.

If the cause is tuberculosis infection, anti tuberculosis medications are given.

Surgery may be necessary if osteomyelitis becomes chronic. Surgery is performed to remove the diseased bone or infected tissue. If there is an infection in the implanted device such as an artificial knee, then the implant has to be removed.

In chronic osteomyelitis surgical debridement may be necessary. In this procedure, the infected bone and the tissue is removed. The empty space is filled with healthy bone.

During this period, eating healthy and nutritious diet is beneficial in increasing the immunity.