Bone Infection (Osteomyelitis)

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KEY POINTS

• Osteomyelitis is an infection in a bone caused by bacteria, fungus, or other germs.
• Bone infection is usually treated with antibiotics. You may need a cast or splint, or you may need bone graft surgery.
• If you have diabetes, keep your blood glucose (sugar) under good control to help the infection heal. Take care of any wounds or injuries right away, especially injuries with broken skin over a bone or joint. Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you have a wound that isn’t healing.

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What is osteomyelitis?

Osteomyelitis is an infection in a bone. The bones most often affected are the legs, arms, spine, and pelvis.

What is the cause?

A bone infection is most often caused by bacteria. But, it can also be caused by fungus or other germs. Germs can infect bones in 2 ways:

• Most often bones are infected by germs through an open wound, during surgery, or from a broken bone that broke through the skin.
• Sometimes bacteria from infections in other parts of your body travel through your bloodstream and infect a bone. Some examples of infections that may spread to the bone are urinary tract infections, pneumonia, strep throat, skin infections, and tuberculosis (TB).

You may be at a greater risk for a bone infection if you:

• Have diabetes
• Receive kidney dialysis
• Have poor blood circulation
• Had a recent injury
• Use illegal drugs
• Have had your spleen removed

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may include:

• Swelling, pain, or tenderness over a bone
• A collection of pus under the skin (abscess) near the infected bone.
• Trouble moving a joint or walking and putting weight on a leg
• Fever and chills
• Nausea
• Tiredness or irritability

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and examine you. Tests may include:

• Blood tests
• A bone biopsy, which uses a needle passed through the skin to take a small sample of bone tissue for testing
• Bone scan, which uses a radioactive chemical to look at your bone
• X-rays
• CT scan, which uses X-rays and a computer to show detailed pictures of the bone
• MRI, which uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to show detailed pictures of the bone

How is it treated?

Bone infection is usually treated with antibiotics. How long you are on antibiotics depends on the type and location of the infection and how well it responds to treatment.

To help lessen pain, you may need a cast or splint that keeps the bone from moving.

You may need surgery to remove sections of bone that are infected or to drain an abscess. The bone usually grows back normally after the infection is under control, but in some cases, you may need a bone graft. A bone graft takes healthy bone from one part of your body and transplants it where the infection was, so new healthy bone will grow there.

How can I take care of myself?

• If you have diabetes, keep your blood glucose under good control to help the infection heal.
• Eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise as recommended by your provider.
• Follow the full course of treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider. Ask your healthcare provider:
  • How and when you will get your test results
  • How long it will take to recover
  • If there are activities you should avoid and when you can return to your normal activities
  • How to take care of yourself at home
  • What symptoms or problems you should watch for and what to do if you have them
• Make sure you know when you should come back for a checkup. Keep all appointments for provider visits or tests.

How can I help prevent osteomyelitis?

Take care of any wounds or injuries right away, especially injuries with broken skin over a bone or joint. Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you have a wound that isn’t healing.