Osteomyelitis

Bacterial or fungal infection

Staphylococcus Aureus is the
most common causative agent (70%) 1

Often aquired from a primary
infection elsewhere in the body

Hematogenous spread

Spread directly from open wound

Causes destruction and necrosis
of the infected bone

Can be acute or chronic in nature

Surgical

Surgical treatment involves aspiration of
the affected bone.

Includes removal of dead tissue, purulent matter
and amputation.

Non-Surgical

IV antibiotic therapy.
Antibiotic prescription varies depending
on causative agent.

Management often requires extensive
hospital stays, exceeding 4 weeks.

Diagnosis is complex
often requires several
diagnostic procedures

Patient presentation plays a huge
role in diagnosis.

Fever, local pain and refusal
to use affected limb are all
common presentations.

Diagnostic Imaging can
be utilised.

X-Ray imaging is
poor at early detection

MRI is more effective

Blood testing can help detect
osteomyelitis, however has low
specificity.

Blood culture is can detect
pathogens if spread hematogenously

ESR and CPR rates are
useful in detection, however
they have low specificty.

Aspiration of the affected area
for collection and analysis of tissue
is the gold standard for diagnosis.

Psychosocial Outcomes

Increased levels of depression and other co-morbidities
are associated with diagnosis of Chronic osteomyelitis [5]

Early detection is key in minimising costs associated with
treatment

Chronic Osteomyelitis has a more severe psychosocial
impact with multiple hospitalisations and surgeries.

Cost of hospital admission during treatment
is significant.

With early intervention, most patients make
a full recovery.

Psychosocial impacts vary greatly. Often
anxiety, depression and isolation are related
to lengthy hospital stays.

Long hospital stays, and surgical outcomes
factor in to patient outcomes.

Surgical intervention is associated with
poor outcomes and recovery.

If amputation is required this will
have a significant impact on patient
quality of life.

Outcomes depend on several factos

Predisposing factors such as
diabetes, early diagnosis, location,
early intervention impact outcomes.

Often diagnosing the causative agent
is difficult, and antibiotic therapy requires
changing, this can affect the outcome for
patients.