Osteoarthritis in the neonate: risk factors and outcome.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to identify the clinical, radiological, and bacteriological features, risk factors, and outcome of neonates with bone and joint infections.


METHODS
Observational, retrospective, and analytical study of 77 patients less than 2 months of age, admitted to a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with the diagnosis of bone or joint infection, based on clinical, radiological, and microbiological criteria.


RESULTS
Seventy-seven patients with 99 acute osteoarthritis foci in a 16 year period were included in the study. Risk factors for infection could be identified in 69% of the patients. The hip was the most frequent. Staphylococcus aureus was the main isolated microorganism. Twenty-nine infants (38%) had sequelae. Hip involvement, culture positive, and Staphylococcus aureus isolation were risk factors associated with sequelae.


CONCLUSIONS
Osteoarticular infection is unusual in the neonate; however it is associated with an elevated incidence of sequelae. This mandates for a high degree of suspicion to diagnose this potentially disabling entity.
Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital de Pediatría JP Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina. griselberberian@yahoo.com.ar
Griselda
G
Berberian
Verónica
V
Firpo
Adriana
A
Soto
Julio
J
Lopez Mañan
Cecilia
C
Torroija
Graciela
G
Castro
Pablo
P
Polanuer
Camilo
C
Espinola
José Luis
JL
Piñeiro
María Teresa
MT
Rosanova
D000208:Acute Disease; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index