Patient education: Osteomyelitis in adults (The Basics)

What is osteomyelitis? — Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone. It can cause pain and other symptoms.

A bone can get infected if there are germs in the blood or nearby tissues. A bone can also get infected following a serious injury that exposes the bone.

What are the symptoms of osteomyelitis? — The main symptom is dull pain in the infected body part. The infected area might also be tender, warm, red, or swollen. But often, pain is the only symptom. In some cases, osteomyelitis causes no symptoms.

Is there a test for osteomyelitis? — Yes. If your doctor or nurse thinks that you have osteomyelitis, they will order a bone biopsy. During a bone biopsy, a doctor takes a small sample of bone to send to the lab. The bone sample can be taken with a needle or by doing surgery. Usually, the best way to get a good bone sample is through surgery. It's important to get a good sample, because knowing what kind of germ is causing the infection can help doctors choose the right treatment.

In some cases, doctors find osteomyelitis on an X-ray or other test that shows pictures of the bone. But even if they find it this way, doctors usually follow up with a bone biopsy.

How is osteomyelitis treated? — Treatment usually starts with surgery to remove dead and damaged bone and tissue.

People being treated for osteomyelitis usually get antibiotic medicines for at least several weeks. Sometimes, the antibiotics are given through a thin tube that goes into a vein, called an "IV." Sometimes, the antibiotics are given as pills. Treatment often starts while the person is in the hospital. Then, after the person is released, they keep getting antibiotic treatments. This can happen at a rehabilitation facility or at home with the help of a visiting nurse.

What problems should I watch for? — If you have been diagnosed with osteomyelitis, call for advice if:

●You have signs of infection – These include fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.

●You have problems with your surgical wound, including:

•Swelling, redness, or warmth around the area

•Yellow, green, or bloody discharge

•Bad smell coming from the area

•The wound opening up

●You have problems with your IV, if you have one.

●Your osteomyelitis symptoms come back.

Can osteomyelitis be prevented? — To lower your chances of getting osteomyelitis:

●Wash cuts or wounds with soap and water right away.

●Call your doctor or nurse if you have sores that will not heal.

●If you have diabetes, make sure that you regularly check your feet for cuts or signs of infection. Keep your blood sugar under control.

●Quit smoking, if you smoke – Smokers have a higher chance of getting osteomyelitis than people who don't smoke.

●Avoid pressure sores, if you have to spend a lot of time sitting or in bed.

More on this topic

Patient education: Osteomyelitis in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Reactive arthritis (The Basics)

Patient education: Reactive arthritis (Beyond the Basics)