Epidemiology and Antibiotic Sensitivity Patterns in Pyogenic Bone and Joint Infections in Children

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common organism causing paediatric bone and joint infections accounting for 86% of pus culture-positive cases. Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a major challenge in the tertiary care setting as the majority (56%) of all pus culture postive cases were MRSA. The male to female ratio in these infections was approximately 2:1. The lower limbs were affected in the majority of children with osteomyelitis (OM) with hip joint being the commonest (50%) followed by the knee. Broad spectrum antibiotics were used emperically in 40% of cases prior to referral to a tertiary care centre. MRSA infections were associated with a higher likelihood of complications. Keywords: Paediatric, Pyogenic, Bone and joint infections, Antibiotic practices