Osteoarticular Infections In Children Research Articles

1690. Acute Hematogenous Osteoarticular Infections in Children at Siriraj Hospital, Thailand: A 20-Year Retrospective Review

Abstract Background Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) and septic arthritis (SA) lead to significant morbidity and sequelae. There are limited data in Thai children. Methods This is a single-center retrospective study of patients aged < 18 years who were diagnosed with AHO and SA between 2002- 2021. The acute onset of AHO and SA was defined as the diagnosis of bone and joint infection within 4 weeks after the onset of symptoms or signs in a previously uninfected bone. Data were collected and factors associated with sequelae were determined by using multiple logistic regression analyses. Results Of the 110 patients identified, 19 were AHO, 81 were SA, and 10 were combined AHO and SA. The median (IQR) age was 6.7 (1.4-11.9) years and 66 (60%) were male. Fifteen (13.6%) patients were immunocompromised. The most common sites of AHO were tibia (27.6%) and femur (27.6%), and of SA were hips (41.8%) and knees (31.9%). The pathogens were identified in 68 of 106 (64.1%) patients with specimen submission. The positivity rate of hemoculture, synovial fluid, synovial tissues, bone biopsies and vaginal/urethral culture in patients with suspected disseminated gonococcal infection were 32.1%, 40%, 61.9%, 60% and 50% respectively. The most common organisms were methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (30.2%) and non-typhoidal Salmonella (9.4%). We found only one case with community-acquired, methicillin-resistant S.aureus. Non-typhoidal Salmonella was responsible for 22.7% of 22 infants. The one-year sequelae were found in 15.8% of AHO, 18.5% of SA, and 20% of combined. In multivariate models, factors associated with sequelae were being immunocompromised (adjusted OR 14.16, 95%CI 1.96-102.35, P=0.009) and infection of the hips (adjusted OR 6.25, 95%CI 1.45-14.59, P=0.025). Patients' characteristics Pathogens according to age groups Factors associated with sequalae Conclusion Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus was the most common pathogen among Thai children with acute hematogenous osteoarticular infections. However, Salmonella was the predominant causative organism among infants. Appropriate empirical antibiotic therapy should be effective against both pathogens in infants. Long-term follow up is needed particularly in immunocompromised children and infection of the hip. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Use of Clinical Practice Guideline to Improve Management of Osteoarticular Infections in Children.

Osteoarticular infections (OAIs) in children pose significant risks if incorrectly managed. We introduced a clinical practice guideline (CPG) to decrease use of broad-spectrum and intravenous (IV) antibiotics for OAI treatment. The primary aims of our project were to decrease the percent of patients with empirical broad cephalosporin use to 10% and decrease IV antibiotic therapy on discharge to 20% while increasing narrow-spectrum oral antibiotic use to 80% within 24 months. We used quality improvement methodology to study patients diagnosed with OAIs. Interventions included multidisciplinary workgroup planning, CPG implementation, education, information technology, and stakeholder feedback. Outcome measures were the percentage of patients prescribed empirical broad-spectrum cephalosporins, percent discharged on IV antibiotics, and percent discharged on narrow-spectrum oral antibiotics. Process measures included percent of patients hospitalized on medicine service and infectious diseases consultation. Balancing measures included rates of adverse drug reactions, disease complications, length of stay, and readmission within 90 days. The impact of the interventions was assessed with run and control charts. A total of 330 patients were included over 96 months. The percentage of patients with empirical broad cephalosporin coverage decreased from 47% to 10%, percent discharged on IV antibiotics decreased from 75% to 11%, and percent discharged on narrow-spectrum oral antibiotics increased from 24% to 84%. Adverse drug reactions decreased from 31% to 10%. Rates of complications, readmissions, and length of stay were unchanged. Through development and implementation of a CPG for OAI management, we demonstrated decreased use of empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics and improved definitive antibiotic management.

Exclusively Oral Treatment for Osteoarticular Infections in Children. Is It Time?

Exclusively Oral Treatment for Osteoarticular Infections in Children. Is It Time?

BACTERIOLOGY AND ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF OSTEOARTICULAR INFECTIONS AT A REGIONAL PAEDIATRIC UNIT IN SOUTH AFRICA

Osteoarticular infections (OAI) are a common cause of morbidity in children, and as opposed to adults is usually caused by haematogenous spread. The bacteriology of OAI in children is not well described in the South African context, therefore this study was designed to determine the bacteriology of OAI in our population.All patients that underwent surgery for the treatment of OAI over a 3-year period were identified and those with positive cultures where organisms were identified from tissue, pus, fluid or blood were included. Duplicate cultures from the same patient were excluded if the organism and antibiotic susceptibility profile was the same. Patients were categorised according to age and class of infection (Septic arthritis, acute osteomyelitis, fracture related infection, post-operative sepsis and chronic osteomyelitis) and organisms were stratified according to these categories.We identified 132 organisms from 123 samples collected from 86 patients. Most cultured organisms were from children older than 3-years with acute haematogenous septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, or both. Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 56% (74/132) of organisms cultured. There were no cases of MRSA. The Enterobacterales accounted for 17% (22/132) of organisms cultured, mostly in the fracture related and post-operative infection groups. Of these, 6 each were extended spectrum B-lactamase producers and AmpC producers. There were no carbapenemase producing Enterobacterales. Kingella kingae was not isolated in any patient.Methicillin sensitive S. aureus is the most common infecting organism in paediatric OAI and an anti-staphylococcal penicillin such as cloxacillin or flucloxacillin is the most appropriate empiric treatment for haematogenous OAI in our environment. In fracture related or post-operative infections, Enterobacterales were more frequently cultured, and treatment should be guided by culture and susceptibility results.

Profile of Common Osteo-Articular Infections in Children's Limbs at the Albert Royer Children's Hospital in Dakar (Senegal): Contribution of the Radiography- Ultrasound Couple

Profile of Common Osteo-Articular Infections in Children's Limbs at the Albert Royer Children's Hospital in Dakar (Senegal): Contribution of the Radiography- Ultrasound Couple

Osteoarticular Infections in Children: Accurately Distinguishing between MSSA and Kingella kingae

Introduction: Osteoarticular infections (OAIs) constitute serious paediatric conditions that may cause severe complications. Identifying the causative organism is one of the mainstays of the care process, since its detection will confirm the diagnosis, enable adjustments to antibiotic therapy and thus optimize outcomes. Two bacteria account for the majority of OAIs before 16 years of age: Staphylococcus aureus is known for affecting the older child, whereas Kingella kingae affects infants and children younger than 4 years old. We aimed to better define clinical characteristic and biological criteria for prompt diagnosis and discrimination between these two OAI. Materials and methods: We retrospectively studied 335 children, gathering 100 K. kingae and 116 S. aureus bacteriologically proven OAIs. Age, gender, temperature at admission, involved bone or joint, and laboratory data including bacterial cultures were collected for analysis. Comparisons between patients with OAI due to K. kingae and those with OAI due to S. aureus were performed using the Mann−Whitney and Kruskal−Wallis tests. Six cut-off discrimination criteria (age, admission’s T°, WBC, CRP, ESR and platelet count) were defined, and their respective ability to differentiate between OAI patients due to K. kingae versus those with S. aureus was assessed by nonparametric receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: Univariate analysis demonstrated significant differences between the two populations for age of patients, temperature at admission, CRP, ESR, WBC, and platelet count. AUC assessed by ROC curves demonstrated an exquisite ability to discriminate between the two populations for age of the patients; whereas AUC for CRP (0.79), temperature at admission (0.76), and platelet count (0.76) indicated a fair accuracy to discriminate between the two populations. Accuracy to discriminate between the two subgroups of patients was considered as poor for WBC (AUC = 0.62), and failed for ESR (AUC = 0.58). On the basis of our results, the best model to predict K. kingae OAI included of the following cut-offs for each parameter: age < 43 months, temperature at admission < 37.9 °C, CRP < 32.5 mg/L, and platelet count > 361,500/mm3. Conclusions: OAI caused by K. kingae affects primarily infants and toddlers aged less than 4 years, whereas most of the children with OAI due to MSSA were aged 4 years and more. Considering our experience on the ground, only three variables were very suggestive of an OAI caused by K. kingae, i.e., age of less than 4 years, platelet count > 400,000, and a CRP level below 32.5 mg/L, whereas WBC and ESR were relatively of limited use in clinical practice.

The unrelenting tide of osteoarticular infections in children: reflections from Uganda, eastern Africa.

Forty years ago I made a radical professional choice: to dedicate a few years of practice to the African continent. Not surprisingly, a few years became many. This paper is dedicated to the children who are battling osteoarticular infections and to those who will be struggling with them in future.

Benefits of diffusion-weighted imaging in pediatric acute osteoarticular infections

BackgroundContrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended for the diagnosis of acute osteoarticular infections in children. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) may be an alternative to the injection of gadolinium.ObjectiveTo evaluate unenhanced MRI with DWI in comparison to contrast-enhanced MRI for the diagnostic work-up of acute osteoarticular infections in children.Materials and methodsThis retrospective study included 36 children (age range: 7 months-12 years) with extra-spinal osteoarticular infections and MRI performed within 24 h of admission. MRI protocol included short tau inversion recovery (STIR), water-only T2 Dixon, T1, DWI, and gadolinium-enhanced T1 sequences. Two readers reviewed three sets of images: 1) unenhanced sequences, 2) unenhanced sequences with DWI and 3) unenhanced followed by contrast-enhanced sequences (reference standard). Sensitivity and specificity of sets 1 and 2 were compared to set 3 and assessed to identify osteoarticular infections: osteomyelitis (long bones, metaphyseal equivalents), septic arthritis and abscess (soft tissues, bone).ResultsAll 14 cases of osteomyelitis in the metaphyses and diaphyses of long bones and all 27 cases of septic arthritis were identified by unenhanced sequences, but 4/16 abscesses were missed. For the diagnosis of abscess, DWI increased sensitivity to 100%. Among the 18 osteomyelitis in metaphyseal equivalents, 4 femoral head chondroepiphyses were identified by contrast-enhanced sequences only.ConclusionMRI for suspected pediatric acute osteoarticular infections is the best diagnostic modality to guide patient management. An unenhanced protocol with DWI may be an alternative to a contrast-based protocol, even in the presence of an abscess. However, gadolinium remains necessary to assess for chondroepiphyseal involvement of the femoral head.

The recent bacterial etiology of childhood osteoarticular infections focusing on the vaccine initiation for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae: A single-center retrospective analysis in Japan

BackgroundPediatric acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis can destroy growth plate cartilage and joint cartilage, causing permanent deformities and growth disorders. Preventing the contraction of osteoarticular infections is important. Various types of bacteria cause osteoarticular infections in children. Since 2013, when routine vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae was initiated in Japan, diseases caused by these bacteria (other than osteoarticular infection) are reported to decrease. In this study, we aimed to re-confirm the actual situation including the presence of pathogenic bacteria of pediatric bone and joint infections. MethodsThe subjects were patients of 15 years old or younger who had been diagnosed with acute osteomyelitis or septic arthritis and received initial treatment in our hospital from April 1995 to March 2019. We obtained information from the medical records and analyzed them statistically. ResultsThere were 65 patients with 65 bones with acute osteomyelitis, and 120 patients with 124 joints with septic arthritis. The pathogenic bacteria were identified in 26 (40.0%) osteomyelitis patients and 59 (49.2%) septic arthritis patients. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogenic bacterium, and S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae were identified in four and seven patients respectively, frequently in younger patients. After routine vaccination against S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae, these bacteria were no longer detected in patients under five years old. ConclusionsThe efficacy of the S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae vaccine against orthopedic infectious diseases in Japan was indicated.

Osteoarticular infections in infants under 3 months of age.

Acute osteoarticular infections (OAI) in infants under 3 months of age (≤3M) are rare and remain a diagnostic challenge. Orthopedic complications and functional sequelae have been less well described in this age group. Our aims were to evaluate trends in aetiology, management, and outcomes of OAI ≤ 3M, and to compare these younger children who have OAI with older children. A longitudinal observational study was conducted of OAI cases admitted to tertiary care pediatric hospital from 2008 to 2018. OAI ≤ 3M was compared with children above 3 months. Clinical, microbiological, imaging, and outcome data were analyzed. We identified 24 (9.1%) of the 263 OAI in children under 3 months. Analyzing OAI ≤ 3M there was a twofold increase since 2014; 54% were males with a median age of 28 days (IQR: 13.5-60.0), 10 (41.7%) were premature and nine (37.5%) had healthcare-associated infections. Microbiological causes were identified in 87.5%, mostly Staphylococcus aureus (57.1%) and Group B Streptococcus (23.8%), and 25% were multidrug-resistant (5 methicillin-resistant S. aureus and 1 Enterobacter cloacae). Bacteremia (100% vs 36.8%, P = 0.037), multidrug resistant bacteria (75% vs 16, P = 0.04), and healthcare-associated infections (100% vs 26.3%, P = 0.014) were associated with sequelae. Comparing OAI ≤ 3M with older children, OAI ≤ 3M were treated with longer antibiotic courses, had more complications and sequelae (17.4% vs 3.2%, P = 0.002). S. aureus is still the most common cause of OAI ≤ 3M, and 25% of causative bacteria were multidrug-resistant bacteria. Complications and sequelae were more frequent in OAI ≤ 3M when compared with older children.

Diagnostic test accuracy of serum procalcitonin compared with C-reactive protein for bone and joint infection in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The objective of this review was to synthesize the best available evidence for the diagnostic test accuracy of serum procalcitonin compared with serum C-reactive protein for suspected osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in hospitalized children and adolescents. Measurement of serum C-reactive protein remains a routine investigation for the diagnosis of osteoarticular infection in children and adolescents. Measurement of serum procalcitonin has been shown to outperform C-reactive protein in adults with osteomyelitis and septic arthritis. Before procalcitonin can be considered as a potential replacement or add-on test in children and adolescents, a systematic review and meta-analysis targeting this population should be conducted. Original studies reporting the diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin and/or C-reactive protein in children and adolescents between one month and 18 years of age admitted to hospital with suspected osteoarticular infection were included. Studies must have compared the index test to at least one reference test. Reference test was defined as positive culture or polymerase chain reaction confirmation of a pathogen from blood, bone biopsy, or joint fluid aspirate in combination with at least two of the following: i) purulent material from sterile site, ii) positive radiological findings consistent with osteoarticular infection, and ii) symptoms and signs consistent with osteomyelitis and/or septic arthritis. The JBI methodology for systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy was followed. Information was sourced from four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science) and four gray literature sources (MedNar, OpenGrey, Google Scholar, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses). Only studies published in English were considered. The methodological quality of selected studies was formally evaluated, sensitivity and specificity data were extracted, and 95% confidence intervals determined. Meta-analysis was performed to estimate summary points using a bivariate model and to generate a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curve with global measures of test accuracy performance, such as likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio. A narrative was provided where meta-analysis was not appropriate. Eight studies were included in the review. Four of these studies used a common C-reactive protein test threshold of 20 mg/L. At this threshold, the estimated pooled sensitivity of C-reactive protein was 0.86 (0.68-0.96) and the pooled specificity was 0.9 (0.83-0.94). Using a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic model from six studies, the diagnostic odds ratio for C-reactive protein was estimated to be 39.4 (14.8-104.9) with a positive likelihood ratio 5.3 (2.3-11.9) and a negative likelihood ratio 0.1 (0.07-0.2). There were insufficient studies from this review to statistically evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin. Clinicians should continue to measure serum C-reactive protein as the preferred inflammatory marker in hospitalized children and adolescents with suspected osteomyelitis or septic arthritis. More evidence is needed before incorporating procalcitonin routinely into clinicians' diagnostic test strategy. Improvements with the design, quality, and reporting of procalcitonin diagnostic test assays in children and adolescents with osteoarticular infection is needed. PROSPERO CRD42019140276.

Acute osteoarticular infections in children are frequently forgotten multidiscipline emergencies: beyond the technical skills.

Acute osteoarticular infections (AOI) should be treated as top emergencies. The first few days following the inception of infection are ultra-critical to long-term prognosis.A comprehensive road map for management of childhood AOI is still lacking despite recent advances in microbiology and imaging (magnetic resonance imaging). The many faces of childhood AOI warrant a multidiscipline approach to management.Laboratory and imaging findings of are still debatable and should not overshadow or delay a management plan based on the experienced physician’s clinical judgment.Ample evidence-based practice supports the use of a few days of intravenous antibiotic administration followed by oral therapy until correlative clinical and basic laboratory (acute phase reactants) results improve.The growing body of evidence on ‘high-risk’ children/neonates of AOI warrants continual clinical extra-vigilance in identifying these patient subsets.Open drainage and debridement remain the mainstay of treatment of septic hips, whereas for other joints the use of alternative surgical techniques should be individualized or on case-by-case basis.Because the consequences of misdiagnosis of AOI are usually grave and permanent, proactive treatment/overtreatment is justified in the event of unconfirmed but suspicious diagnosis.Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:584-592. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200155

Osteomyelitis caused by Aggregatibacter aphrophilus – a case report

Osteomyelitis in children is often secondary to haematogenous dissemination of bacteria into long bone metaphyses. Organisms causing osteomyelitis vary with age, and the virulence of different pathogens influences clinical presentation.1 Aetiological diagnosis is important in determining appropriate antibiotic therapy. This case involves an 11-year-old girl with 4 months worsening left knee pain and difficulty weight bearing. She had no fever, preceding trauma or recent dental procedures. Inflammatory markers were unremarkable, with radiological evidence of a Brodie’s abscess. She was trialled on oral cephalexin; despite transient clinical improvement, she re-presented with worsening symptoms. She was afebrile, with distal femoral point tenderness, no evidence of knee joint involvement and 1/6 mid-systolic murmur at the pulmonic area. Intravenous flucloxacillin was commenced, with debridement and washout of the distal femoral lesion. Surgical specimens grew Aggregetibacter aphrophilus sensitive to ampicillin, with negative blood cultures. Transthoracic echocardiography showed no valvular abnormalities. Her mobility improved, and she was transitioned to amoxicillin, with planned duration of 3 months. Aggregetibacter aphrophilus is a low virulence HACEK group bacterial pathogen with potential to cause osteomyelitis.2 This case of an uncommon, low-virulence pathogen causing osteomyelitis shows the importance of aetiological diagnosis to guide appropriate management, especially in cases with indolent presentations. 1.Arnold JC, Bradley JS. Osteoarticular infections in children. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2015; 29: 557–74.2.Norskov-Lauritsen N, Kilian M. Reclassification of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Haemophilus aphrophilus, Haemophilus paraphrophilus and Haemophilus segnis as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans gen. nov., comb. nov., Aggregatibacter aphrophilus comb. nov. and Aggregatibacter segnis comb. nov., and emended description of Aggregatibacter aphrophilus to include V factor-dependent and V factor-independent isolates. Int J Syst Evolutionary Microbiol 2006; 56: 2135–46.

Osteoarticular infection in children.

We aimed to describe the epidemiological, biological, and bacteriological characteristics of osteoarticular infections (OAIs) caused by Kingella kingae. The medical charts of all children presenting with OAIs to our institution over a 13-year period (January 2007 to December 2019) were reviewed. Among these patients, we extracted those which presented an OAI caused by K. kingae and their epidemiological data, biological results, and bacteriological aetiologies were assessed. K. kingae was the main reported microorganism in our paediatric population, being responsible for 48.7% of OAIs confirmed bacteriologically. K. kingae affects primarily children aged between six months and 48 months. The highest prevalence of OAI caused by K. kingae was between seven months and 24 months old. After the patients were 27 months old, its incidence decreased significantly. The incidence though of infection throughout the year showed no significant differences. Three-quarters of patients with an OAI caused by K. kingae were afebrile at hospital admission, 11% had elevated WBCs, and 61.2% had abnormal CRPs, whereas the ESR was increased in 75%, constituting the most significant predictor of an OAI. On MRI, we noted 53% of arthritis affecting mostly the knee and 31% of osteomyelitis located primarily in the foot. K. kingae should be recognized currently as the primary pathogen causing OAI in children younger than 48 months old. Diagnosis of an OAI caused by K. kingae is not always obvious, since this infection may occur with a mild-to-moderate clinical and biological inflammatory response. Extensive use of nucleic acid amplification assays improved the detection of fastidious pathogens and has increased the observed incidence of OAI, especially in children aged between six months and 48 months. We propose the incorporation of polymerase chain reaction assays into modern diagnostic algorithms for OAIs to better identify the bacteriological aetiology of OAIs. Cite this article: Bone Joint J2021;103-B(3):578-583.

Osteoarticular Infections in Children: Accurately Distinguishing between MSSA and Kingella Kingae

Osteoarticular Infections in Children: Accurately Distinguishing between MSSA and Kingella Kingae

Absceso de Brodie, una patología de difícil diagnóstico

Las infecciones osteoarticulares agudas pediátricas constituyen patologías poco frecuentes, siendo de suma importancia realizar un diagnóstico precoz y tratamiento adecuado para evitar las complicaciones agudas o a largo plazo. El absceso de Brodie (AB) es una forma de osteomielitis subaguda de baja incidencia y de difícil diagnóstico, por lo que es imprescindible la sospecha clínica.Objetivo: Presentar un caso de AB y describir las características etiológicas y clínicas de esta patología.Caso Clínico: Paciente 14 años, evaluado por dolor de muslo derecho de un mes de evolución, afebril y sin antecedente de trauma. Al examen físico no presentaba aumento de volumen, el rango de movimiento (ROM) de cadera derecha era doloroso y la sensibilidad estaba aumentada a la palpación superficial de banda iliotibial (BIT) derecha. Estudio radiológico sin alteraciones. Por persistir síntomas se solicitó ecografía de muslo que mostró irregularidad ósea cortical. Resonancia Magnética (RM) evidenció lesión en diáfisis de fémur derecho de probable origen tumoral o infeccioso. Parámetros inflamatorios sin alteraciones. Se realizó toma de biopsia y cultivos, aislando Staphylococcus aureus multisensible. Se procedió a aseo quirúrgico y terapia antibiótica endovenosa, evolucionando favorablemente.Conclusiones: La presentación clínica y laboratorio en AB pueden ser inespecíficas. El clínico no especialista debe tener un alto índice de sospecha de esta patología como posible diagnóstico diferencial en pacientes que persisten con dolor y presentan una alteración radiológica, incluso ante la ausencia de otros síntomas y parámetros inflamatorios normales. Es importante realizar una biopsia ósea para el diagnóstico diferencial de patologías tumorales.

Long-Term Outcomes of Acute Osteoarticular Infections in Children.

Background: Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (OM) and septic arthritis require immediate diagnosis and treatment by an interdisciplinary team of pediatric infectious disease specialists and pediatric orthopedic surgeons. Adverse outcomes such as growth disturbance, bone deformity, and chronic infections have been described in older studies. However, there is only little known about long-term follow-up of patients of the last two decades. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate subjective and objective long-term outcomes of these children with osteoarticular infections treated in the millennial years.Methods: Cross-sectional study performed in two pediatric centers including patients admitted for OM and/or SA between 2005 and 2014 and follow-up consultations in 2019. Patients with symptoms of ≤2 weeks duration at initial presentation were contacted. Subjective outcomes were assessed by standardized interview, objective outcomes by clinical examination. Medical charts were used to extract data from the initial presentations. Statistical analysis was performed by non-parametric tests and Fisher's exact test.Results: Of 147 eligible patients 77 (52%) agreed to participate, of which 68 (88%) had an interview and physical examination and 9 (12%) an interview only. Thirty-three (39%) had OM, 26 (34%) SA, and 21 (27%) combined OM/SA. Median (IQR) age at follow-up was 13.3 (10.5–18.0) years with a median (IQR) follow-up of 7.1 (6.1–8.6) years. Persistent complaints including pain, functional differences and scar paresthesia, reported by 21 (28%) patients, were generally mild and only 3 (5%) required ongoing medical care. Objective sequelae including pain, limited range of motion, unilateral axis deformity or asymmetric gait were found in 8 (12%) participants. Older age, female sex, joint involvement, surgical intervention, persistent fever, and C-reactive protein elevation were associated with adverse clinical outcome.Conclusions: Adverse outcomes were observed in a considerable number of patients, most of which were minor, and only few required ongoing medical care. Long-term follow up is advisable for patients with risk factors identified during the initial presentation.This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03827980).

Pediatric osteoarticular infection: trend in surgically treated patients and association of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with requirement of secondary procedures.

Acute pediatric osteoarticular infection demonstrates variability in both presentation and response to treatment. Many respond to antibiotics ± single operation, while some require multiple surgeries. Currently, it is difficult to predict who may require additional procedures. Infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been associated with more complications. The purpose of this study is to determine MRSA trends and degree of association with the occurrence of multiple procedures. We performed a retrospective analysis of surgically treated pediatric (1 month-18 years) patients for acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis at a tertiary children's hospital from 2003-2017. The cohort was divided into single-procedure and multiple-procedure groups. A total of 753 patients were studied with a mean age of 7.05 years (2.4 months-17.9 years). We identified 645/753 (85.6%) patients who were treated with a single-procedure and 108/753 (14.4%) patients who required multiple- procedures. The lower extremity (hip, knee, tibia, and femur) was most commonly involved. The epidemiologic trend runs almost parallel between two groups with a peak in 2009. The odds ratio for multiple-procedures was 2.0 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2-3.1; P = 0.002] with dual infection (osteomyelitis + septic arthritis), 2.6 (95% CI, 1.6-4.4; P = 0.001) with high-risk conditions and 4.6 (95% CI, 3.0-7.1; P < 0.001) if MRSA was present. MRSA significantly predicts the requirement of additional operative procedures for the treatment of osteoarticular infections in children. Besides clinical deterioration and other markers, the presence of MRSA can be a considerable indicator for a planned secondary-procedure. Level III retrospective cohort study.

Acute Hematogenous Bacterial Osteoarticular Infections in Children.

1. Nathan Donaldson, DO* 2. Julia Sanders, MD* 3. Jason Child, PharmD† 4. Sarah Parker, MD‡ 1. *Division of Orthopedic Surgery and 2. ‡Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 3. †Department of Pharmacy, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO * Abbreviations: ADE: : adverse drug event CRMO: : chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis CRP: : C-reactive protein CT: : computed tomography ESR: : erythrocyte sedimentation rate MRI: : magnetic resonance imaging MRSA: : methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MSSA: : methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus OAI: : osteoarticular infection WBC: : white blood cell Management of pediatric acute hematogenous osteoarticular infections has changed in various ways during the past decade, including the description of new pathogens and updated diagnostic and treatment strategies (such as infected source sampling and an early switch to oral therapy). After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Understand what predisposes children of different age groups to acute hematogenous osteoarticular infections (OAIs), particularly the role of anatomy and differing pathogenic susceptibilities. 2. Recognize the symptoms present in children with OAIs and their most common differential diagnoses. 3. Understand the most effective imaging techniques and laboratory tests/cultures to diagnose an OAI and how to interpret them. 4. Understand the benefits and limitations of therapeutic surgery and source sampling (biopsy/aspirate) and when to commence antimicrobial drug therapy. 5. Recognize the most common causative pathogens and the most effective antimicrobial drugs for their treatment. 6. Determine how long a patient should be taking intravenous and oral therapy and under what conditions they should switch from intravenous to oral antimicrobial agents. 7. Understand the recommended follow-up after diagnosis, including when to expect normalization of laboratory values in patients with uncomplicated OAIs. 8. Recognize complicated OAIs and their possible long-term sequelae. Pediatric osteoarticular infections (OAIs) include infections of the bones (osteomyelitis) and joints (septic arthritis). Pathogenic organisms may be introduced into these normally sterile sites via direct inoculation (eg, trauma or surgery) or via erosion from a contiguously infected source (eg, chronic ulcer), but organisms are mostly hematogenously delivered. Bacteria are the most common pathogens to cause OAIs, but mycobacteria, fungi, and viruses can also infect these tissues. If diagnosed in the first 10 to 14 days, these infections are …

Interest of a Three Phase Bone Scintigraphy Protocol in the Diagnosis and Management of Osteoarticular Infections in Children. About 31 Cases

Introduction: Osteoarticular infection is a particularly common pathology in children. The diagnosis is sometimes difficult especially in front of a poor symptomatology and a little disturbed biological assessment. The aim of this work is to assess the contribution of bone scintigraphy in the diagnosis of osteoarticular infections in children. Patients and Method: This is a retrospective study spread out between December 2012 and February 2019, involving children referred to the nuclear medicine department of Hassan II University Hospital Center of Fez for suspected osteoarticular infection. All the children benefited from a bone scan with a triple phase acquisition followed by a study of the entire bone skeleton, after an IV injection of 10 MBq /Kg of MDP-Tc99m. Results: We selected 31 children. The average age was 9.43 years old with a male predominance. The clinical signs mainly found in our patients were fever, bone pain and functional impairment of the affected limb. The main location was the lower limb (74.2%). Bone scan was positive in 70.9% of patients, including 9 cases of septic arthritis, 7 cases of osteomyelitis, 4 cases of sacroiliitis and one case of lumbar spondylodiscitis. Conclusions: Three-phases bone scintigraphy protocole with MDP-Tc99m completed with a whole body bone scan should remain the examination of choice in osteoarticular infections in children. This exam makes it possible to retain an accurate diagnosis in an early stage of OAI while the other medical imaging modalities exams being negative. Thus allowing to prevent severe complications with an affordable financial cost and an acceptable irradiation rate.