General Information About Bone Infection
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the condition where bacteria or fungi settle in the bone tissue, reproduce there, create a purulent infection, and kill the bone cells.
An infection elsewhere, such as a skin or tooth abscess, can spread to the bone via the bloodstream. Or, microbes can directly reach the bone through an open fracture in a traffic accident, orthopedic platinum surgeries, and diabetic foot ulcers (wounds that do not close).
Severe, throbbing pain over the infected bone, noticeable redness in that area, an increase in temperature, swelling, fever, chills, and sometimes pus leaking outward from the skin.
The inflammation cuts off the blood circulation of the bone, causing that part of the bone to decay (necrosis). Chronic osteomyelitis can lead to the infection mixing into the blood (sepsis) or, in advanced situations, amputation of that limb (leg, etc.).
Inflammation markers (CRP, Sedimentation) in the blood are checked. X-rays provide late findings, so edema within the bone is detected by Magnetic Resonance (MRI) imaging. To find the causative agent, fluid or a biopsy is taken from the bone and cultured.
Because bone tissue has a dense structure, it is difficult for medications to penetrate the bone. Therefore, long intravenous (IV) antibiotic treatments lasting at least 4-6 weeks are required. Often, pus and dead bone fragments inside the bone are surgically scraped off and cleaned (debridement).
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
