Can Osteomyelitis Be Fatal? - Fixanswer

Osteomyelitis is a bacterial, or fungal, infection of the bone. Osteomyelitis affects about 2 out of every 10,000 people. If left untreated,

the infection can become chronic and cause a loss of blood supply to the affected bone

. When this happens, it can lead to the eventual death of the bone tissue.

Can osteomyelitis cause sepsis?

An infection of the bone, called osteomyelitis

, could lead to sepsis. In people who are hospitalized, bacteria may enter through IV lines, surgical wounds, urinary catheters, and bed sores.

What complication of osteomyelitis is the most likely to occur?

The most common complication in children with osteomyelitis is

recurrence of bone infection

.

What are the complications of osteomyelitis?

Bone abscess (pocket of pus)
Bone necrosis (bone death)
Spread of infection.
Inflammation of soft tissue (cellulitis)
Blood poisoning (septicaemia)
Chronic infection that doesn’t respond well to treatment.

Is osteomyelitis an emergency?

Symptoms that might indicate a serious condition

In some cases, osteomyelitis can be a serious condition that

should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting

. Osteomyelitis may spread to the bloodstream and lead to a widespread infection.

What is the prognosis for osteomyelitis?

Outlook (Prognosis)

With treatment,

the outcome for acute osteomyelitis is often good

. The outlook is worse for those with long-term (chronic) osteomyelitis. Symptoms may come and go for years, even with surgery. Amputation may be needed, especially in people with diabetes or poor blood circulation.

What are the long term effects of osteomyelitis?

Osteomyelitis needs long-term care to prevent complications, such as:

Fractures of the affected bone

.

Stunted growth in children

, if the infection has involved the growth plate. Tissue death (gangrene) in the affected area.

Does osteomyelitis ever go away?

Osteomyelitis is a painful bone infection.

It usually goes away if treated early with antibiotics

. If not, it can cause permanent damage.

What are the 3 stages of sepsis?

The three stages of sepsis are:

sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock

. When your immune system goes into overdrive in response to an infection, sepsis may develop as a result.

What is the mortality rate for osteomyelitis?

weeks after onset of spinal symptoms; diagnosis was confirmed within the first month of illness for 69% of patients, and the mortality rate was

11.7%

. Patients with impaired immune systems appeared to be at increased risk of death.

What bone is the most common site of osteomyelitis?

Among children and teens, the long bones of the legs and arms are most frequently affected. In adults, osteomyelitis most often affects the

vertebrae of the spine and/or the hips

. However, extremities are frequently involved due to skin wounds, trauma and surgeries.

What is the best antibiotic for osteomyelitis?

Oral antibiotics that have been proved to be effective include

clindamycin, rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and fluoroquinolones

. Clindamycin is given orally after initial intravenous (IV) treatment for 1-2 weeks and has excellent bioavailability.

How serious is a bone infection?

An infection in your bone

can impede blood circulation within the bone

, leading to bone death. Areas where bone has died need to be surgically removed for antibiotics to be effective. Septic arthritis. Sometimes, infection within bones can spread into a nearby joint.

Can osteomyelitis affect the brain?

Brain abscess is the commonest complication of skull osteomyelitis

. This is usually associated with subperiosteal abscess. Frontal lobe abscess present as subtle personality changes. Radiological features vary with the duration of the infection.

How fast does osteomyelitis spread?

Acute osteomyelitis develops rapidly

over a period of seven to 10 days

. The symptoms for acute and chronic osteomyelitis are very similar and include: Fever, irritability, fatigue.