II. Staging: Cierny-Mader Staging System
- Anatomic Type
- Stage 1: Medullary Osteomyelitis
- Stage 2: Superficial Osteomyelitis
- Stage 3: Localized Osteomyelitis
- Stage 4: Diffuse Osteomyelitis
- Physiologic Type
- Class A: Normal Immune System response and healthy vascular system
- Class B-L: Compromised locally
- Arteritis
- Lymphedema
- Radiation Fibrosis
- Tissue scarring
- Vascular Compromise (e.g. Peripheral Arterial Disease, Critical Limb Ischemia)
- Venous Stasis
- Class B-S: Compromised systemically
- Alcohol Abuse
- Age extremes (young children, elderly)
- Chronic Hypoxia
- Corticosteroid Use
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Immunodeficiency
- Malignancy
- Malnutrition
- Liver Failure
- Renal Failure
- Tobacco Abuse
- Class C: Not a surgical candidate
- Treatment is more harmful than disease
- Palliative management is indicated
- References
III. Management: General
- If possible, delay Antibiotics until bone culture and sensitivity are available
- Indications for empiric immediate Antibiotics (prior to biopsy, culture results)
- Hospitalized patients at risk of MRSA
- Severe Sepsis
- Epidural Abscess
- Neurologic involvement
- Bone biopsy and surgical Debridement
- Indications
- Indicated in most cases of Chronic Osteomyelitis and contiguous infection
- Underlying orthopedic hardware
- Necrotic bone
- Protocol
- Bone stabilization is performed at time of Debridement
- Consider Antibiotic-loaded Collagen sponge placement
- Efficacy
- Decreases hospital stays, Antibiotic therapy duration and prevents complications
- Shih (2005) J Trauma 58(1): 83-7 [PubMed]
- Indications
- Once obtaining surgical bone culture-based Antibiotic sensitivities, oral Antibiotics are as effective as Parenteral
- Additional Measures
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
IV. Management: Acute (Hematogenous Spread)
- Protocol
- Total Antibiotic duration: 4 to 6 weeks (up to 3-6 months for prosthetic hip or knee)
- ParenteralAntibiotics for first 1-2 weeks
- Oral Antibiotics for remainder of course
- Obtain cultures before starting empiric Antibiotics
- Revise Antibiotic coverage upon culture results
- Total Antibiotic duration: 4 to 6 weeks (up to 3-6 months for prosthetic hip or knee)
- First-line Antibiotics (choose 2)
- Antibiotic 1: Vancomycin
- Vancomycin substitutes: Linezolid, Daptomycin, Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole or if sensitive, Clindamycin
- Cefazolin or Nafcillin may be considered instead in non-life threatening infecton if low MRSA risk (<10%)
- Antibiotic 2: Cephalosporin (Ceftriaxone, Ceftazidime, Cefepime, Cefotaxime)
- Cephalosporin substitutes: Aztreonam, or if over age 15 years, Ciprofloxacin or Levofloxacin
- Antibiotic 1: Vancomycin
- Additional coverage in special circumstances
- Sickle Cell Anemia (include Salmonella coverage)
- Add Fluoroquinolone (avoid in children, unless directed by infectious disease consultant)
- IV Drug Abuse or Hemodialysis patient (polymicrobial infections)
- Add Ciprofloxacin
- Immunocompromised patients
- Consider broadening coverage to include fungal organisms (e.g. candida) and Mycobacterium species
- Sickle Cell Anemia (include Salmonella coverage)
- Other specific management (based on cultures)
- Candida Albicans
- Surprisingly, most often occurs in immunocompetent patients
- Most common sites are Vertebrae in adults, the femur in children
- Surgical Debridement and hardware removal is typical
- Treated with Antifungals for 6-12 months
- IV for First 2 weeks: Echinocandin (e.g. Caspofungin), Fluconazole or Amphotericin B
- Next: Fluconazole for 6-12 months
- Gamaletsou (2012) Clin Infect Dis 55(10):1338-51 +PMID:22911646 [PubMed]
- Candida Albicans
V. Management: Contiguous Osteomyelitis
- No Vascular Insufficiency
- Bacterial causes
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus
- Gram Negative Rods
- Streptococcus
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Empiric Antibiotics (only in acutely ill patients, otherwise wait for culture results)
- Vancomycin (or Linezolid) AND
- Cephalosporin (Ceftazidime or Cefepime)
- Consider adding Rifampin
- Prosthetic joint
- Spinal implant
- Antibiotics after culture identifies Bacteria
- Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus
- Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
- First-line: Vancomycin
- Alternative: Linezolid, Rifampin, Daptomycin
- Streptococcus Species
- First-Line: Penicillin G
- Alternatives: Ceftriaxone, Clindamycin
- Quinolone-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
- First-Line: Ticarcillin/Clavulanate (Timentin), Piperacillin/Tazobactam (Zosyn)
- Alternatives: Ceftriaxone
- Quinolone-Sensitive Enterobacteriaceae
- First-Line: Fluoroquinolone (e.g. Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin)
- Alternatives: Ceftriaxone
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- First-Line: Ciprofloxacin AND Cefepime or Piperacillin/Tazobactam (Zosyn)
- Alternative: Imipenem/Cilastin (Primaxin) AND Aminoglycoside
- Anaerobic Bacteria
- First-Line: Clindamycin, Ticarcillin/Clavulanate (Timentin)
- Alternative: Cefotetan (Cefotan), Metronidazole (Flagyl)
- Antibiotic course
- Duration if no hardware: 6-8 weeks
- Duration if hardware: 3-6 months (or until hardware removed)
- Bacterial causes
- Vascular Insufficiency (Peripheral Arterial Disease or Diabetes Mellitus with Neuropathy)
- See Diabetic Foot Infection
- See Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis
- Antibiotics for 6 weeks based on bone culture and sensitivity
- Empiric Antibiotics (only in acutely ill patients, otherwise wait for culture results)
- Vancomycin AND Ertapenem (or Moxifloxacin)
- Other measures
- Consider revascularization
VI. Management: Chronic Osteomyelitis
- Avoid Empiric Antibiotics unless acute exacerbation
- Treat acute exacerbation as Acute Osteomyelitis
- Base management on culture and sensitivity
- Bone biopsy culture and sensitivity (preferred)
- Soft-tissue culture and sensitivity
- Antibiotic duration for 2 to 6 weeks
- Surgical Debridement with
- Careful and complete Debridement is critical
- Dead-space management
- Local myoplasty
- Free-tissue transfers
- Antibiotic impregnated beads
VII. References
- (2019) Sanford Guide, accessed on IOS 10/26/2019
- Bamberger (2005) Am Fam Physician 72:2471-81 [PubMed]
- Boutin (1998) Orthop Clin North Am 29:41-66 [PubMed]
- Bury (2021) Am Fam Physician 104(4): 395-402 [PubMed]
- Carek (2001) Am Fam Physician 63(12):2413-20 [PubMed]
- Hatzenbuehler (2011) Am Fam Physician 84(9): 1027-33 [PubMed]
- Lew (1997) N Engl J Med 336:999-1007 [PubMed]
- Lipsky (1997) Clin Infect Dis 25:1318-26 [PubMed]