Osteomyelitis Case Study

Cebu Technological University
In consortium with
Cebu City Medical Center-College of Nursing
M.J Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City
OSTEOMYELITIS
Mary Joy A. Calimpon

Maryann Manuelle G. Feliciano
Rey Kenneth R. Iligan
Hannah M. Labaya
Nicole Fatima L. Solon
Clinical Instructor:
Michelle Marie Z. de la Calzada
I. Overview of the Illness
Osteomyelitis is a rare type of bone infection. Most cases
are caused by bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus.
Certain diseases, such as diabetes, might increase a
person’s risk for osteomyelitis. Affecting 2 out of every
10,000 people both, children and adults, osteomyelitis
may cause pain and swelling in affected areas, fever, and
drainage, in addition to other symptoms. If left untreated,
this condition may become chronic and cause blood supply loss, this may eventually lead to the death
of bone tissues.
II. Symptoms of the Illness

Signs and symptoms of osteomyelitis include:
 Fever
 Swelling
 Warmth and redness over the area of infection
 Pain in the area of the infection
 Fatigue
*Sometimes osteomyelitis causes no signs and symptoms or the signs and symptoms are hard to
distinguish from other problems. This may be especially true for infants, older adults, and people
whose immune systems are compromised.
III. Causes of the Illness

There are several different ways to develop the bone infection of osteomyelitis. The first is for
bacteria to travel through the bloodstream (bacteremia) and spread to the bone, causing an infection
(hematogenous osteomyelitis). This most often occurs when the patient has an infectious disease
elsewhere in the body, such as pneumonia, an abscessed tooth, or a urinary tract infection that spreads
through the blood to the bone.
An open wound from a trauma (post-traumatic wound) over a bone can lead to osteomyelitis. This
happens most commonly with underlying peripheral vascular disease, peripheral neuropathy, or
diabetes mellitus. With an open fracture (compound fracture), bacteria may come in contact with the
bone that punctures through the skin. This increases the risk of osteomyelitis.
A recent surgery or injection in or around a bone can also expose the bone to bacteria and lead to
periostitis, an infection of the surface membrane of the bone. This can worsen and affect the whole
bone, leading to osteomyelitis.
The most common types of bacteria that cause osteomyelitis are Staphylococcus (including
methicillin-resistant or Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA), Pseudomonas, and Enterobacteriaceae.
Less commonly, gram negative bacteria causes osteomyelitis. Patients with condition or taking
medications that weaken their immune system are at a higher risk of developing osteomyelitis.
IV. Risk Factors

Some of the risk factors that may increase a person’s susceptibility to osteomyelitis include:
 Long term skin infections

 Inadequately controlled diabetes
 Poor blood circulation (arteriosclerosis)
 Risk factors for poor blood circulation, which include high blood pressure, cigarette smoking,
high blood cholesterol and diabetes.
 Immune system deficiency
 Prosthetic joints
 The use of intravenous drugs
 Sickle cell anaemia
 Cancer
V. Treatment Modalities
Figuring out if a person has osteomyelitis is the first step in treatment. It’s also surprisingly difficult.
- Doctors rely on x-rays, blood tests, MRI, and bone scans to get a picture of what’s going on.
- A bone biopsy helps determine the type of organism, typically bacteria, causing the infection so
the right medication can be prescribed.
- Treatment focuses on stopping infection in its tracks and preserving as much function as possible.
- Most people with osteomyelitis are treated with antibiotics, surgery, or both.
- Antibiotics help bring the infection under control and often make it possible to avoid surgery.
- People with osteomyelitis usually get antibiotics for several weeks through an IV, and then switch
to a pill.
- Serious or chronic osteomyelitis requires surgery to remove the infected bone and tissue.
- Osteomyelitis surgery prevents the infection from spreading further or getting so bad that
amputation is the only remaining option.

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Cebu Technological University

Mary Joy A. Calimpon

II. Symptoms of the Illness

III. Causes of the Illness

IV. Risk Factors

 Long term skin infections

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