Osteomyelitis Bacteria Bone Infection Causes Bone Pain Symptoms for Antibiotic Treatment

Osteomyelitis means bone infection.  Usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, but other bacterium or sometimes fungus can be a cause for an infection in bones.

When osteomyelitis occurs in children, it is often affects the long bone in the acute form.  For older adults, the spine and pelvis are more common bone infection points, and is either acute or chronic.

Those experiencing osteomyelitis very often feel severe bone pain at the infection site. Your other symptoms might include some of following:

Sometimes osteomyelitis causes no symptoms.   Or your bone pain symptoms are difficult to distinguish from other concurrent health issues.

Osteomylelitis arises from either an infection traveling around in your bloodstream, spreading from nearby infected tissue, a previous trauma to the infected bone itself or due to poor circulation.

You have an increased risk for a bone infection if you suffer from these conditions or under these circumstances:

You are also more vulnerable to a bacterial bone infection if you’ve had your spleen removed.

An infected bone may deteriorate and form an abscess.  This can block blood supply to your bone, which might lead to death of your bone.

So make no mistake, osteomyelitis is a serious condition.  Requiring aggressive treatment to potentially save your infected bone.

The first goal of treatment is to destroy the bacteria causing bone pain infection, if that is your case.  Yep, antibiotics are are first in line for that defense.

For infections that do not go away (chronic), surgical treatment may be a necessary to:

  • restore blood flow
  • drain infected area
  • remove dead bone tissue
  • remove any foreign objects ~ plates, screws, prosthesis

If you have chronic osteomyelitis, a bone biopsy might be performed to help determine which bacteria or fungus is causing your infection. And for some, a regime of antibiotic treatment may be needed for life.

The infection that causes osteomyelitis can usually be controlled. Those involving an uncontrollable bacteria bone infection may require more drastic treatment.  Like amputation.

Some wound healing and bone infection prevention measures include:

  • clean deep wounds thoroughly
  • cover with sterile gauze or clothe
  • apply an OTC antibiotic cream, optional
  • check your wound frequently for signs of infection

If your wound is not healing or causes continuous pain, pay a visit to your health care professional.

When going through treatment for osteomyelitis give your body all your support to fight your bacteria bone infection by consuming a healthy diet chuck full of fruit and vegetable variety.

Spare Bones Health Blurbs:

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