Osteomyelitis

[Lizzy Liz]

Osteomyelitis is a bone infection usually caused by bacteria, mycobacteria, or fungi.

• Bacteria, mycobacteria, or fungi can infect bones by spreading through the bloodstream or, more often, by spreading from nearby infected tissue or a contaminated open wound.
• People have pain in one part of the bone, fever, and weight loss.
• Blood tests and imaging tests are done, and doctors remove a sample of bone for tests.
• Antibiotics are given for weeks, and surgery may be needed to remove the infected bone.

Osteomyelitis occurs most commonly in young children and in older people, but all age groups are at risk. Osteomyelitis is also more likely to occur in people with serious medical conditions.

When a bone becomes infected, the soft, inner part (bone marrow) often swells. As the swollen tissue presses against the rigid outer wall of the bone, the blood vessels in the bone marrow may become compressed, which reduces or cuts off the blood supply to the bone.

Without an adequate blood supply, parts of the bone may die. These areas of dead bone are difficult to cure of infection because it is difficult for the body’s natural infection-fighting cells and antibiotics to reach them.

The infection can also spread outward from the bone to form collections of pus (abscesses) in nearby soft tissues, such as the muscle. Abscesses occasionally drain spontaneously through the skin.

[Rihanna]

Inflammation of bone or bone marrow, usually due to infection.

[Oralee]

a type of serious bone infection: