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OBJECTIVES: This study describes the microbiological spectrum of chronic osteomyelitis and so guides the choice of empirical antibiotics for this condition. METHODS: We performed a prospective review of a 166 prospective patient series of chronic osteomyelitis from Oxford, UK in which a standardised surgical sampling protocol was used. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus was most commonly isolated (32%) amongst a wide range of organisms including gram negative bacilli, anaerobes and coagulase negative staphylococci. Low grade pathogens were not confined to patients with a history of metalwork, a high proportion of cases were polymicrobial (29%) and culture negative cases were common (28%). No clear predictors of causative organism could be established. Many isolates were found to be resistant to commonly used empirical anti-microbial regimens. CONCLUSIONS: The wide range of causative organisms and degree of resistance to commonly used anti-microbials supports the importance of extensive intra-operative sampling and provides important information to guide clinicians' choice of empirical antibiotics.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.jinf.2010.03.006

Type

Journal article

Journal

J infect

Publication Date

05/2010

Volume

60

Pages

338 - 343

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Bacteria, Bacterial Infections, Chronic Disease, Drug Resistance, Bacterial, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Osteomyelitis, Prevalence, Prospective Studies, United Kingdom, Young Adult