title: Successful use of locally applied polyhexamethylene biguanide as an adjunct to the treatment of fungal osteomyelitis.
abstract: Fungal osteomyelitis is rare in immunocompetent patients and is often difficult to cure, even with optimal medical and surgical management. The authors present two cases of fungal osteomyelitis in which the common swimming pool cleaner, polyhexamethylene biguanide, was used successfully as an adjunct to standard surgical and medical treatment. Also presented is a literature review on the use of polyhexamethylene biguanide for this indication. The authors recommend that this safe and well-tolerated compound be considered as part of the treatment for fungal osteomyelitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Genevieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walls
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Noonan
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Briggs
keywords: Fungal osteomyelitis; Fusarium solani; Polyhexamethylene biguanide; Scedosporium prolificans