Osteoarticular Infections in Children

• Published in: Infectious disease clinics of North America Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 557 - 574
• Main Authors: Arnold, John C., MD, Bradley, John S., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-09-2015
• Subjects: Acute bacterial arthritis; Acute bacterial osteomyelitis; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Arthritis, Infectious - diagnosis; Arthritis, Infectious - diagnostic imaging; Arthritis, Infectious - etiology; Arthritis, Infectious - microbiology; Arthritis, Infectious - therapy; Biomarkers; C-reactive protein (CRP); Child; Fever - etiology; Hematogenous; Humans; Infectious Disease; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification; Osteoarticular infection; Osteomyelitis - diagnosis; Osteomyelitis - diagnostic imaging; Osteomyelitis - microbiology; Osteomyelitis - therapy; Pediatric; Radiography; Septic arthritis; Septic arthritis; Osteoarticular infection; C-reactive protein (CRP); Acute bacterial osteomyelitis; Pediatric; Acute bacterial arthritis; Hematogenous
• ISSN: 0891-5520; 1557-9824
• DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2015.05.012

For a child with a suspected bone or joint infection, knowledge of the workup and initial therapy is important to provide quality care. Fever and pain are hallmarks of a pediatric osteoarticular infection, although occasionally the signs and symptoms can be more subtle. The use of C-reactive protein to diagnose and validate effective management of treatment has become standard. Multiple reports confirm the success of much shorter intravenous (IV) courses than traditionally taught. The ideal IV and oral antibiotic duration, as well as defining the markers indicating need for surgical intervention, are questions yet to be answered.