title: Management of osteoarticular infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus is similar to that of other etiologies: analysis of 199 staphylococcal bone and joint infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and their combination are considered to warrant especially aggressive treatment if caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our prospective treatment trial of children aged 3 months to 15 years included 199 cases of S. aureus osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, or their combination. These cases were compared with 66 cases caused by other agents, mainly Haemophilus influenzae type b, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Streptococcus pyogenes. According to protocol, the treatment was initiated intravenously only for 2 to 4 days and completed orally. Nonstaphylococcal and staphylococcal infections were treated similarly. Primary antibiotics were clindamycin or a first-generation cephalosporin. Follow-up lasted ≥ 12 months posthospitalization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Staphylococcal infections did not significantly differ in the duration of medication, hospital stay, surgery performed, or the number of sequelae when compared with the other etiologic groups. One child with S. aureus arthritis developed 2 late infections by other agents in the same anatomic site. Except 3 mild sequelae (2 caused by S. aureus and 1 by S. pyogenes) 12 months posthospitalization, all patients recovered completely.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Osteoarticular infections of childhood caused by methicillin-susceptible S. aureus can be treated according to the same protocol as those used for infections caused by other agents.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, and University of Helsinki, Finland. Markus.Paakkonen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pääkkönen
authors.forename: Pentti E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Kallio
authors.forename: Markku J T
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kallio
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peltola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019741:Haemophilus influenzae type b / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D002981:Clindamycin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008712:Methicillin