Abstract: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: 1. Foot infections in patients with diabetes cause substantial morbidity and frequent visits to health care professionals and may lead to amputation of a lower extremity. 2. Diabetic foot infections require attention to local (foot) and systemic (metabolic) issues and coordinated management, preferably by a multidisciplinary foot-care team (A-II). The team managing these infections should include, or have ready access to, an infectious diseases specialist or a medical microbiologist (B-II). 3. The major predisposing factor to these infections is foot ulceration, which is usually related to peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral vascular disease and various immunological disturbances play a secondary role. 4. Aerobic Gram-positive cocci (especially Staphylococcus aureus) are the predominant pathogens in diabetic foot infections. Patients who have chronic wounds or who have recently received antibiotic therapy may also be infected with Gram-negative rods, and those with foot ischemia or gangrene may have obligate anaerobic pathogens. 5. Wound infections must be diagnosed clinically on the basis of local (and occasionally systemic) signs and symptoms of inflammation. Laboratory (including microbiological) investigations are of limited use for diagnosing infection, except in cases of osteomyelitis (B-II). 6. Send appropriately obtained specimens for culture before starting empirical antibiotic therapy in all cases of infection, except perhaps those that are mild and previously untreated (B-III). Tissue specimens obtained by biopsy, ulcer curettage, or aspiration are preferable to wound swab specimens (A-I). 7. Imaging studies may help diagnose or better define deep, soft-tissue purulent collections and are usually needed to detect pathological findings in bone. Plain radiography may be adequate in many cases, but MRI (in preference to isotope scanning) is more sensitive and specific, especially for detection of soft-tissue lesions (A-I). 8. Infections should be categorized by their severity on the basis of readily assessable clinical and laboratory features (B-II). Most important among these are the specific tissues involved, the adequacy of arterial perfusion, and the presence of systemic toxicity or metabolic instability. Categorization helps determine the degree of risk to the patient and the limb and, thus, the urgency and venue of management. 9. Available evidence does not support treating clinically uninfected ulcers with antibiotic therapy (D-III). Antibiotic therapy is necessary for virtually all infected wounds, but it is often insufficient without appropriate wound care. 10. Select an empirical antibiotic regimen on the basis of the severity of the infection and the likely etiologic agent(s) (B-II). Therapy aimed solely at aerobic Gram-positive cocci may be sufficient for mild-to-moderate infections in patients who have not recently received antibiotic therapy (A-II). Broad-spectrum empirical therapy is not routinely required but is indicated for severe infections, pending culture results and antibiotic susceptibility data (B-III). Take into consideration any recent antibiotic therapy and local antibiotic susceptibility data, especially the prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) or other resistant organisms. Definitive therapy should be based on both the culture results and susceptibility data and the clinical response to the empirical regimen (C-III). 11. There is only limited evidence with which to make informed choices among the various topical, oral, and parenteral antibiotic agents. Virtually all severe and some moderate infections require parenteral therapy, at least initially (C-III). Highly bioavailable oral antibiotics can be used in most mild and in many moderate infections, including some cases of osteomyelitis (A-II). Topical therapy may be used for some mild superficial infections (B-I). 12. Continue antibiotic therapy until there is evidence that the infection has resolved but not necessarily until a wound has healed. Suggestions for the duration of antibiotic therapy are as follows: for mild infections, 12 weeks usually suffices, but some require an additional 12 weeks; for moderate and severe infections, usually 24 weeks is sufficient, depending on the structures involved, the adequacy of debridement, the type of soft-tissue wound cover, and wound vascularity (A-II); and for osteomyelitis, generally at least 46 weeks is required, but a shorter duration is sufficient if the entire infected bone is removed, and probably a longer duration is needed if infected bone remains (B-II). 13. If an infection in a clinically stable patient fails to respond to 1 antibiotic courses, consider discontinuing all antimicrobials and, after a few days, obtaining optimal culture specimens (C-III). 14. Seek surgical consultation and, when needed, intervention for infections accompanied by a deep abscess, extensive bone or joint involvement, crepitus, substantial necrosis or gangrene, or necrotizing fasciitis (A-II). Evaluating the limb's arterial supply and revascularizing when indicated are particularly important. Surgeons with experience and interest in the field should be recruited by the foot-care team, if possible. 15. Providing optimal wound care, in addition to appropriate antibiotic treatment of the infection, is crucial for healing (A-I). This includes proper wound cleansing, debridement of any callus and necrotic tissue, and, especially, off-loading of pressure. There is insufficient evidence to recommend use of a specific wound dressing or any type of wound healing agents or products for infected foot wounds. 16. Patients with infected wounds require early and careful follow-up observation to ensure that the selected medical and surgical treatment regimens have been appropriate and effective (B-III). 17. Studies have not adequately defined the role of most adjunctive therapies for diabetic foot infections, but systematic reviews suggest that granulocyte colony-stimulating factors and systemic hyperbaric oxygen therapy may help prevent amputations (B-I). These treatments may be useful for severe infections or for those that have not adequately responded to therapy, despite correcting for all amenable local and systemic adverse factors. 18. Spread of infection to bone (osteitis or osteomyelitis) may be difficult to distinguish from noninfectious osteoarthropathy. Clinical examination and imaging tests may suffice, but bone biopsy is valuable for establishing the diagnosis of osteomyelitis, for defining the pathogenic organism(s), and for determining the antibiotic susceptibilities of such organisms (B-II). 19. Although this field has matured, further research is much needed. The committee especially recommends that adequately powered prospective studies be undertaken to elucidate and validate systems for classifying infection, diagnosing osteomyelitis, defining optimal antibiotic regimens in various situations, and clarifying the role of surgery in treating osteomyelitis (A-III).

Abstract: BACKGROUND.Staphylococcus aureus strains carrying the genes encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin (pvl-positive [pvl+]) are associated with more febrile days and higher complication rates of osteomyelitis in children than are pvl-negative (pvl−) strains. OBJECTIVES. Selected clinical, laboratory, and radiographic findings in children with osteomyelitis caused by pvl+ and pvl−S aureus strains were compared. METHODS. The demographics, selected clinical features, laboratory values, and radiographic findings of children with community-acquired S aureus osteomyelitis prospectively identified at Texas Children9s Hospital between August 2001 and July 2004 were reviewed. Polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the genes for pvl (luk-S-PV and luk-F-PV) and fibronectin-binding protein (fnbB) in S aureus isolates. χ2, 2-sample t test, and multiple logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS. Methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant S aureus (MSSA and MRSA, respectively) caused osteomyelitis in 33 and 56 children, respectively. Twenty-six isolates were pvl− (26 MSSA), 59 were pvl+ (3 MSSA, 56 MRSA), and 4 were not available for analysis (4 MSSA). On univariate analysis, patients with pvl+S aureus isolates had significantly higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) level both at presentation and as a maximum value during hospitalization and were more likely to have a blood culture positive for S aureus during their admission. Patients with pvl+S aureus isolates were significantly more likely to have concomitant myositis or pyomyositis compared with patients with pvl−S aureus isolates on MRI. In a multivariate analysis pvl remained significantly associated with ESR and CRP levels at presentation and blood culture positive for S aureus. pvl+ status and younger age were associated with myositis on MRI. CONCLUSIONS. Osteomyelitis caused by pvl+S aureus strains were associated with more severe local disease and a greater systemic inflammatory response compared with osteomyelitis caused by pvl−S aureus.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: An increase in the incidence and severity of acute osteoarticular infections in children was perceived after the emergence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in our community. This study was performed to describe changes in the epidemiology and clinical features of acute osteoarticular infections. METHODS: The records of patients discharged from Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center with a diagnosis of acute osteoarticular infection between 2000 and 2004 were reviewed. Data regarding signs and symptoms, diagnostic testing, therapeutics, surgery, and hospital course were collected. RESULTS: There were 158 cases of acute osteoarticular infection. The incidence increased from 2.6 to 6.0 per 1000 admissions between 2000 and 2004. The proportion of infections caused by methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) remained constant (10%-13%) and that caused by MRSA rose from 4% to 40%. There was no difference between MRSA and MSSA patients in the duration of fever or pain before diagnosis. Seventy-one percent of patients with MRSA had subperiosteal abscesses compared with 38% with MSSA (P = 0.02). Ninety-one percent of MRSA patients required a surgical procedure compared with 62% of MSSA patients (P < 0.001). Median hospital stay was 7 days for MSSA patients and 10 days for MRSA patients (P = 0.0001). Three patients developed chronic osteomyelitis, 2 with MRSA. There was no association between a delay in institution of appropriate antibiotic therapy and presence of subperiosteal abscess (P = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: There has been an increase in the incidence and severity of acute osteoarticular infections in Memphis. Patients with community-associated MRSA infections are at higher risk of subperiosteal abscess requiring surgical intervention.

Abstract: P ! .001 comitant foot ulcer swabs were available for 69 of 76 patients. The results of bone and swab cultures were identical for 12 (17.4%) of 69 patients, and bone bacteria were isolated from the corresponding swab culture in 21 (30.4%) of 69 patients. The concordance between the results of cultures of swab and of bone biopsy specimens was 42.8% for Staphylococcus aureus, 28.5% for gram-negative bacilli, and 25.8% for streptococci. The overall concordance for all isolates was 22.5%. No adverse events—such as worsening peripheral vascular disease, fracture, or biopsyinduced bone infection—were observed, but 1 patient experienced an episode of acute Charcot osteoarthropathy 4 weeks after bone biopsy was performed. Conclusions. These results suggest that superficial swab cultures do not reliably identify bone bacteria. Percutaneous bone biopsy seems to be safe for patients with diabetic foot osteomyelitis. Sustained eradication of chronic osteomyelitis is difficult to achieve for several reasons, including the low levels of most antibiotic agents in chronically infected bone; the decreased metabolism of the pathogens, which are usually incorporated into a relatively impermeable glycocalix biofilm; and the particular characteristics of the osseous environment as regards pH level, partial pressure of oxygen, and protein concentrations [1]. These characteristics, which impair the efficacy of most antibiotic agents, have usually led

Abstract: Implant-related infection is a feared complication in orthopedic and trauma surgery with tremendous consequences for the patient. To reduce this risk, administration of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis is a routine procedure in orthopedic surgery. A local delivery system for antibiotics based on a polymer implant coating has been developed to optimize the prophylaxis. In an animal experiment, the efficacy of local prophylaxis of gentamicin was compared to a systemic single shot of gentamicin and to a combination of both administrations. The medullary cavities of rat tibiae were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus and titanium K-wires were implanted into the medullary canals. For local antibiotic therapy, the implants were coated with poly(D,L-Lactide) (PDLLA) loaded with gentamicin. All the animals not treated with local and systemic application of the antibiotic developed osteomyelitis and all cultures of the implants tested positive for S. aureus. Onset of infection was prevented in 80-90% of animals treated with gentamicin-coated K-wires, with and without systemic prophylaxis. Gentamicin-coated intramedullary tibial nails are CE-certified for Europe and Canada and several patients have already been treated for implant-related infection. Up to now, eight patients with open tibia fractures have been treated with an unreamed tibial nail (UTN) coated with PDLLA and gentamicin. In the 1-year follow up, none of the patients developed an infection. A prospective randomized clinical documentation is currently in progress. So far, the results suggest that a local application of gentamicin from PDLLA-coated implants might support systemic antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing implant-associated osteomyelitis.

Abstract: Introduction Postoperative infections, such as periprosthetic septic arthritis, postoperative osteomyelitis, and deep-wound infection, are a particularly devastating complication of orthopedic surgery. They incur significant morbidity in terms of patient suffering and disability, prolonged hospitalization, frequent need for additional surgical procedures, and delay in rehabilitation. Moreover, there is a 3-fold increase in mortality in orthopedic procedures complicated by joint sepsis or osteomyelitis (1). The use of aggressive aseptic operating conditions, including laminar flow and perioperative antibiotic administration, has decreased the overall incidence of postoperative orthopedic infections to 1–2% (2). Despite these advances, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains an independent risk factor for postoperative orthopedic infection, with infection rates 2–4 times higher than those reported in patients without RA (3,4). The recent development of tumor necrosis factor (TNF ) inhibitors has revolutionized the care of patients with RA. TNF , a highly inflammatory macrophage-derived cytokine, plays a critical role in the joint destruction of patients with RA (5). Treatment of patients with RA using TNF inhibitors provides symptomatic and functional improvement and slows radiographic progression of disease (6). However, TNF inhibitors also enhance the risk of infection with mycobacteria and other opportunistic microorganisms in humans (7). Less is known about the effect of TNF inhibitors on susceptibility to common bacterial infections, in particular those associated with postoperative infections. To address this clinically important issue, we investigated the association of TNF-inhibitor therapy with serious postoperative infection in patients with RA who underwent orthopedic surgery.

Abstract: The use of labeled leukocyte (white blood cell [WBC]) studies in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis can be problematic. A combined study consisting of WBC imaging and complementary bone marrow imaging performed with technetium 99m (99mTc) sulfur colloid is approximately 90% accurate and is especially useful for diagnosing osteomyelitis in situations involving altered marrow distribution. There are limitations and pitfalls associated with a combined study. If there is no labeled WBC activity in the region of interest, marrow imaging is not useful. The sulfur colloid image becomes photopenic within about 1 week after the onset of infection, so that the study should be interpreted cautiously in the acute setting. Labeled WBC accumulation in lymph nodes can also confound image interpretation, although nodal activity can usually be recognized because it is typically round, discrete, multifocal, linear in distribution, and often bilateral. Furthermore, 99mTc-sulfur colloid that is improperly prepared or is more than about 2 hours old degrades image quality, potentially causing erroneous conclusions. Nevertheless, WBC-marrow imaging is a very accurate technique for diagnosing osteomyelitis. Knowledge of the criteria for image interpretation and of the aforementioned limitations and pitfalls, combined with careful attention to imaging technique, will maximize the value of this study.

Abstract: The inflammation and infection of bone include a wide range of processes that can result in a reduction of function or in the complete inability of patients. Apart from the inflammation, infection is sustained by pyogenic microorganisms and results mostly in massive destruction of bones and joints. The treatment of osteomyelitis requires long and expensive medical therapies and, sometimes, surgical resection for debridement of necrotic bone or to consolidate or substitute the compromised bones and joints. Radiographs and bone cultures are the mainstays for the diagnosis but often are useless in the diagnosis of activity or relapse of infection in the lengthy management of these patients. Imaging with radiopharmaceuticals, computed tomography and magnetic resonance are also used to study secondary and chronic infections and their diffusion to soft or deep tissues. The diagnosis is quite easy in acute osteomyelitis of long bones when the structure of bone is still intact. But most cases of osteomyelitis are subacute or chronic at the onset or become chronic during their evolution because of the frequent resistance to antibiotics. In chronic osteomyelitis the structure of bones is altered by fractures, surgical interventions and as a result of bone reabsorption produced by the infection. Metallic implants and prostheses produce artefacts both in computed tomography and magnetic resonance images, and radionuclide studies should be essential in these cases. Vertebral osteomyelitis is a specific entity that can be correctly diagnosed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging at the onset of symptoms but only with radionuclide imaging is it possible to assess the activity of the disease after surgical stabilization or medical therapy. The lack of comparative studies showing the accuracy of each radiopharmaceutical for the study of bone infection does not allow the best nuclear medicine techniques to be chosen in an evidence-based manner. To this end we performed a meta-analysis of peer reviewed articles published between 1984 and 2004 describing the use of nuclear medicine imaging for the study of the most frequent causes of bone infections, including prosthetic joint, peripheric post-traumatic bone infections, vertebral and sternal infections. Guidelines for the choice of the optimal radiopharmaceuticals to be used in each clinical condition and for different aims is provided.

Abstract: Evaluation of clinically suspected infection is a common imaging task, in which many factors have to be taken into consideration, such as the pathogen (bacteria, mycobacteria, fungus, or virus), the location of the suspected infection (bone, soft tissue, joint, or disc space), the age of the patient (infant, child, adult), the time course of the infection (acute, subacute, chronic), and whether there are any underlying complicating factors (e.g., infarct or other bone disease, joint replacement in the area of clinical concern, or diabetic arthropathy). Radiography, computed tomography (CT), sonography, scintigraphy, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) all have roles and varying usefulness in the imaging evaluation.

Abstract: The ability to probe the base of a wound to periosteum or bone (the “probe-to-bone” test) is increasingly used to indicate the likelihood of underlying osteomyelitis. The original study (1) reported sensitivity, specificity, and positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values of 66, 85, 89, and 56%, respectively. However, this work has been criticized on the grounds of the high pretest probability of the disease (2), since the prevalence of osteomyelitis in the chosen sample (in-patients with clinically overt infection) was 66%. It follows that the usefulness of the test may be very different in less-selected populations. We have therefore determined the validity of the probe-to-bone test in a consecutive series of outpatients attending our own multi

Abstract: Purpose: To determine retrospectively the magnetic resonance (MR) findings associated with pedal neuropathic arthropathy with and without superimposed osteomyelitis and to identify any useful discriminating features. Materials and Methods: Investigational review board approval was obtained and allowed review of records and images without informed consent. HIPAA compliance was observed. Contrast-enhanced MR images in patients with diabetic neuropathic arthropathy of the foot were examined by two reviewers in consensus. Affected joints were examined for marrow, articular, periarticular, and soft-tissue findings. Presence of superimposed osteomyelitis was documented. A subgroup that had undergone MR before infection was evaluated for comparison; χ2 and t tests were used to evaluate the associations. Results: Of 128 neuropathic joints in 63 patients (24 female, 39 male; aged 31–78 years), 43 had superimposed osteomyelitis. Effusion was common in all neuropathic joints, but thin rim enhancement was more common...

Abstract: Background: Osteomyelitis in the foot of a diabetic individual is a common complication of peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, and infection. Operative facilities and home intraveno...

Abstract: The Pott puffy tumor is a subperiosteal abscess of the frontal bone that appears as a localized swelling of the overlying region of the forehead associated with frontal osteomyelitis. The authors report the case of an 11-year-old boy who presented with a 6-week history of frontal headaches and a recent sudden-onset, progressively enlarging swelling of his midline forehead associated with immediate relief of headaches. A computed tomography (CT) study revealed 1) a subperiosteal abscess with intracranial extension through the perforated posterior table of the frontal sinus and 2) a large epidural abscess overlying a compressed and narrowed superior sagittal sinus. Emergency surgical relief of the epidural abscess, curettage of the osteomyelitic bone, and excision of the periosteal granulomatous puffy lump were performed. A 6-week course of intravenous antibiotic medication was completed, and the patient had an excellent recovery. The Pott puffy tumor remains a serious complication of frontal sinusitis. In the past 5 years, the frequency of published pediatric cases has increased. Undiagnosed or partially treated frontal sinusitis may lead to this serious complication, and the apparent increase in incidence rate may suggest that this complication of frontal sinusitis could be underestimated in clinical practice. The authors conclude that early diagnosis and complete treatment of frontal sinusitis is crucial.

Abstract: Osteitis pubis is a noninfective inflammation of the symphysis pubis, without distinct aetiology. It has often been reported after urological or gynaecological procedures, and is also associated with trauma, rheumatic disorders, pregnancy and parturition. Symptoms mostly resolve spontaneously. On the other hand, osteomyelitis of the pubis is a classical infective inflammation of bone. The differential diagnosis between both entities may be difficult. The most common complaint in both inflammatory diseases is pain under load, either local or pseudoradicular in nature. The biochemistry is normal or slightly inflammatory in osteitis pubis, but frankly inflammatory in osteomyelitis. A 3-phase bone scan may be positive in the mineralisation or delayed phase in case of osteitis, and in all three phases in case of osteomyelitis. Aspiration is the ultimate diagnostic test: in case of osteomyelitis pubis, culture of the aspirate will usually lead to the diagnosis, sometimes even after antibiotic therapy.

Abstract: Osteomyelitis can lead to severe morbidity and even death resulting from an acute or chronic inflammation of the bone and contiguous structures due to fungal or bacterial infection. Incidence approximates 1 in 1000 neonates and 1 in 5000 children in the United States annually and increases up to 0.36% and 16% in adults with diabetes or sickle cell anaemia, respectively. Current regimens of treatment include antibiotics and/or surgery. However, the increasing number of antibiotic resistant pathogens suggests that alternate strategies are required. We are investigating photodynamic therapy (PDT) as one such alternate treatment for osteomyelitis using a bioluminescent strain of biofilm-producing staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) grown onto kirschner wires (K-wire). S. aureus-coated K-wires were exposed to methylene blue (MB) or 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-mediated PDT either in vitro or following implant into the tibial medullary cavity of Sprague-Dawley rats. The progression of S. aureus biofilm was monitored non-invasively using bioluminescence and expressed as a percentage of the signal for each sample immediately prior to treatment. S. aureus infections were subject to PDT 10 days post inoculation. Treatment comprised administration of ALA (300 mg kg−1) intraperitoneally followed 4 h later by light (635 ± 10 nm; 75 J cm−2) delivered transcutaneously via an optical fiber placed onto the tibia and resulted in significant delay in bacterial growth. In vitro, MB and ALA displayed similar cell kill with ≥4log10 cell kill. In vivo, ALA-mediated PDT inhibited biofilm implants in bone. These results confirm that MB or ALA-mediated PDT have potential to treat S. aureus cultures grown in vitro or in vivo using an animal model of osteomyelitis.

Abstract: Osteomyelitis is a bone infection caused mostly by Staphylococcus aureus but also by Gram-negative bacteria. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), after recognizing microbial products, induce a signal in neutrophils, leading to NF-kappaB activation and transcription of pro-inflammatory genes. Polymorphisms in TLR2 (Arg753Gln) and TLR4 (Asp299Gly, Thr399Ile) genes are associated with bacterial infections, we therefore studied these polymorphisms in osteomyelitis patients. Homozygotes for the TLR4 (Asp299Gly) polymorphism were significantly more frequent among the 80 osteomyelitis patients than in the 155 healthy controls (3/80, 3.8%versus 0/155, 0%; P = 0.038). Carriers of one or two G alleles of this tlr4 polymorphism were more likely to have Gram-negative, haematogenous and/or chronic osteomyelitis than those without this mutation (P < 0.031). Patients with the TLR4 (Thr399Ile) mutant, which cosegregates with the TLR4 (Asp299Gly), were also carriers of this second polymorphism. No differences for the TLR2 (Arg753Gln) genotypes were found between patients and controls. Neutrophils of patients homozygous for the TLR4 (Asp299Gly) polymorphism showed lower LPS-induced apoptosis reduction, phosphorylation of the inhibitor of NF-kappaB, and lower IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels (P < 0.05). We report here for the first time an association between this TLR4 polymorphism and susceptibility to Gram-negative bacteria and haematogenous osteomyelitis.

Abstract: There are numerous reports in the literature using animal models of osteomyelitis for investigating pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of bone infections Rabbits, rats, and dogs are commonly used animals, and, less frequently, chickens, guinea pigs, miniature pigs, goats, and sheep Commonly used bones for creating local osteomyelitis include tibia, femur, and radius, and, less frequently, mandible and spine When designing a specific model, one should consider which animal and which bone will be used, which route for inoculation (either local injection or systemically through vascular injection), which bacterial species and how many bacteria should be applied, if and what sclerosing agent, foreign body or implant should be employed, and if local trauma is needed Basic methods of evaluation include clinical observation, radiography, microbiology, and histology

Abstract: Hypothesis Many soft tissue infections treated with surgical drainage resolve even when treated with antibiotics not active against the organism isolated from the infection. Design Retrospective. Setting Integrated Soft Tissue Infection Services clinic. Patients All patients treated from July 19, 2000, to August 1, 2001, who underwent surgical drainage of a soft tissue infection and had microbiological culture results. Main Outcome Measures Documented resolution of the infection with drainage of the abscess and antibiotic therapy alone was deemed a cure. An infection resulting in death or other surgical therapy was deemed a failure. Therapy was appropriate when the organism was sensitive to prescribed antibiotics and was inappropriate when the organism was insensitive. Results The study included 376 patients with 450 infections. Staphylococcus aureus as the primary organism was isolated from 441 of the cultures. Methicillin sodium–sensitive S aureus and methicillin-resistant S aureus were found in 157 and 284 of these isolates, respectively. Appropriate antibiotics were prescribed in 153 infections with methicillin-sensitive S aureus and in 25 with methicillin-resistant S aureus . Of 441 episodes, 408 were clinically evaluated for cure. Three patients failed treatment, 2 in the appropriately treated group (resulting in death and amputation) and 1 patient with osteomyelitis in the inappropriately treated group. The cure rate for infections treated appropriately or inappropriately was the same. Conclusions Treatment of soft tissue infections after surgical drainage, even with inappropriate antibiotics, has a high cure rate. Further studies to evaluate the efficacy of treating these infections without antibiotics are needed.

Abstract: Neuropathic ulcerations and altered immune function place the diabetic patient at increased risk for polymicrobial osteomyelitis of the foot and ankle. The optimal method for evaluation and management of this difficult condition is controversial, and further studies are needed. Infected ulcers with exposed or palpable bone can be assumed to have underlying osteomyelitis. Although plain film should be ordered in each case, MRI is most often used for evaluation and surgical planning. Difficult cases, such as those associated with Charcot osteoarthropathy, may require labeled leukocyte scanning or bone biopsy to arrive at the diagnosis. A multidisciplinary team approach is best, allowing optimal treatment of all associated conditions that commonly affect patients with diabetes mellitus. Vascular evaluation and intervention are critical in the presence of vascular insufficiency or ischemia. Empiric, usually broad-spectrum antibiotics and meticulous local wound care may achieve remission of mild to moderately severe infections and should be included in all treatment regimens. Severe, infections, ischemia, or sepsis requires an aggressive surgical approach. Bone resection, correction of deformity, or amputation often are necessary and should be done with the goal of salvaging a functional foot.

Abstract: Despite modern surgical techniques and advanced antimicrobial therapy, osteomyelitis remains a difficult and challenging problem. A 10 year audit study from 1990 to 2000 was carried out to assess the outcome of treatment of chronic osteomyelitis. A total of 41 patients with chronic osteomyelitis (26 male, 15 female with an age range of 10-76 years, mean 45.3 years) underwent extirpation and reconstruction with muscle interposition. The duration of osteomyelitis ranged from 1 to 69 years (mean 16.6 years) and many patients had undergone multiple attempted procedures prior to definitive treatment. Thirty-seven patients underwent free microvascular muscle transfer and four patients underwent local transposition muscle flaps. Two of the 41 patients developed recurrent sepsis at 12 months (4.4% recurrence rate). These were treated successfully with elevation of the flap and curettage of the remaining infection and debris and re-insetting of the flap. Only one patient in the series required a below knee amputation and this was as a result of persistent intractable bone pain rather than recurrence of the osteomyelitis.

Abstract: Long-bone defects resulting from trauma can be managed with a variety of techniques, including conventional bone grafting, distraction osteogenesis, bone graft substitutes, prosthetic devices, and vascularized bone grafting. Although there is an array of available methods for long-bone reconstruction of bony defects, vascularized bone transfer is particularly useful in large defects (> 6 cm) and in cases in which osteomyelitis and unstable soft-tissue or beds make conventional techniques difficult.

Abstract: UNLABELLED Chronic vertebral osteomyelitis is a disease of substantial morbidity. Although uncommon to most spinal surgeons, the incidence of pyogenic and granulomatous spondylitis worldwide is on the rise. Although antibiotic therapy remains the initial treatment for most patients, surgical debridement with or without stabilization may be required for effective eradication of the disease. Indications for surgery in pyogenic and granulomatous osteomyelitis include the need to obtain a bacteriologic diagnosis when other methods have failed, the presence of a clinically significant abscess, an infection refractory to prolonged nonoperative treatment, cord compression with considerable neurologic deficit, and substantial deformity or spinal instability. Currently, controversy remains regarding the timing of surgery, the approach used, and the use of instrumentation. We reviewed the contemporary literature available through the Medline database, focusing on larger case series and, when existing, prospective randomized trials. The rationale for surgical treatment of the most common pathogens (eg, Mycobacterium tuberculae and Staphylococcus aureus) is reviewed. Commonly, anterior debridement with or without posterior instrumentation is used for cases of advanced disease, but more limited approaches may have a role in less severe cases or patients unable to tolerate extensive surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level III (systematic review of level III studies). Please see the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Abstract: BACKGROUND The recent proliferation of community-acquired (CA) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has led to a marked increase in the need for outpatient treatment of MRSA infections. Many oral agents active against MRSA have been available for years, and a paucity of literature compares them, leaving physicians with little guidance for choosing among them. The purpose of the present study was to compare the bactericidal effects of orally available antibiotics against MRSA and to determine whether there were differences in antimicrobial killing activity against CA-MRSA and hospital-acquired (HA) MRSA isolates. METHODS A total of 12 unique patient MRSA isolates were studied. Six strains were CA, carrying the staphylococcal chromosomal cassette (SCCmec) type IVa, while six were HA and carried SCCmec type II. Time-kill methods were used to study the bactericidal activity of the orally available antimicrobials linezolid, rifampicin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, minocycline, and moxifloxacin alone and in combination in vitro. RESULTS Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was rapidly bactericidal resulting in >2 log(10) cfu/mL decrease at 8 h and >3 log(10) cfu/mL decrease at 24 h in vitro. No antibiotic combination exhibited better killing than trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole alone. Adding rifampicin to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole showed a trend towards antagonism in vitro. There were no differences in the bactericidal activity of any antimicrobial or antimicrobial combination against MRSA isolates carrying SCCmec type IVa versus those carrying SCCmec type II. CONCLUSION Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole is rapidly bactericidal against MRSA in vitro when compared with most other orally available antimicrobials. No differences in bactericidal activity were detected when activities against CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA were compared.

Abstract: The introduction to this paper summarizes the small amount of information currently published on the histological changes that accompany posttraumatic osteomyelitis in man in addition to other information to aid understanding of this topic. The development of three cases of posttraumatic osteomyelitis and the histological analysis of important tissue areas harvested during debridement are described in detail. Two of the patients suffered from diaphyseal fractures, one of which was nailed and the other plated. The third patient had an epi-metaphyseal fracture, which was later plated with the additional use of an autogenous bone graft. The histological examination consisted of embedding the undecalcified tissue specimens in methylmethacrylate and cutting with a diamond saw or a special microtome. Bone necrosis, damaged soft tissue around it, and penetration of bacteria are the prominent etiological features for the onset of osteomyelitis. The distribution of bone necrosis depends mainly on trauma, the care of the surgeon, and the type of osteosynthesis. Loose dead bone and bone pieces demarcated by osteoclastic activity are transformed into sequestra surrounded by tissue that exhibits different infection activities according to the state of spontaneous development or treatment. Remodeling of bone necrosis from the living bone is slow and depends on many factors. New bone formation is mainly subperiosteal, embedding osteomyelitic areas if the periosteum is not destroyed.