title: Pediatric bone and joint infections. Diagnosis and antimicrobial management.
abstract: Bone and joint infections in children provide unique clinical challenges. When evaluating children with suspected bone and joint infection, the differential diagnosis is broad. Consideration must be given to possible neoplastic and traumatic causes. Appropriate imaging and diagnostic techniques should be initiated without delay. Orthopedic consultation for surgical evaluation should be made early. Prolonged use of antibiotics is often warranted. Treatment often is continued in the outpatient setting, requiring frequent follow-up with appropriate serial laboratory studies to monitor side effects of antimicrobial agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Sonnen
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000382:microbiology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents