title: Community-acquired bone and joint infections in children: a 1-year prospective epidemiological study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of childhood bone and joint infections (BJIs) is not well known, but is useful for identifying epidemiological differences and improving practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence of BJI in previously well children and describe their clinical, laboratory and radiological characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicentre, population-based, prospective study performed from July 2008 through June 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Region of northern France with a population of 872 516 children <16 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  All previously well children admitted in the region with septic arthritis, acute osteomyelitis or spondylodiscitis, diagnosed according to consensus criteria and after blinded radiological review.
  
  
  METHODS
  The corrected incidence of BJI, determined with a capture-recapture method that used this prospective database and the discharge summary database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  58 cases were identified (median age: 3.6 years, range: 1 month-15.8 years; male to female ratio: 1.6). The completeness of the prospective database was 90%. The corrected incidence of any BJI was 7.1/100 000 children (95% CI 5.3 to 8.9). Thirty patients had septic arthritis (52%, incidence: 3.7/100 000; 95% CI 2.4 to 4.9), 24 osteomyelitis (41%, incidence 3.0/100 000; 95% CI 1.8 to 4.1), 4 spondylodiscitis (7%) and 0 osteoarthritis. Micro-organisms were identified from 15 patients (26%), with Staphylococcus aureus the most frequent organism. Radiological findings were characteristic of infection in 44% of BJI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The corrected incidence of BJI in northern France, according to consensus diagnostic criteria, was 7.1/100 000 children <16 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Lille-2 University, University of Lille Nord-de-France, Lille, France Paediatric Emergency Unit and Infectious Diseases, Lille Nord-de-France University Hospital, CHRU Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Ayoub
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mitha
authors.affiliation: Lille-2 University, University of Lille Nord-de-France, Lille, France Department of Paediatric Radiology, Lille Nord-de-France University Hospital, CHRU Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boutry
authors.affiliation: Lille-2 University, University of Lille Nord-de-France, Lille, France Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics, Lille Nord-de-France University Hospital, CHRU Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nectoux
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Anaesthesiology, Lille Nord-de-France University Hospital, CHRU Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petyt
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Emergency Unit and Infectious Diseases, Lille Nord-de-France University Hospital, CHRU Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lagrée
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Emergency Unit and Infectious Diseases, Lille Nord-de-France University Hospital, CHRU Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Happiette
authors.affiliation: Lille-2 University, University of Lille Nord-de-France, Lille, France Paediatric Emergency Unit and Infectious Diseases, Lille Nord-de-France University Hospital, CHRU Lille, Lille, France EA 2694, Public Health: Epidemiology and Quality of Care, University of Lille-Nord-de-France, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinot
authors.affiliation: Lille-2 University, University of Lille Nord-de-France, Lille, France Paediatric Emergency Unit and Infectious Diseases, Lille Nord-de-France University Hospital, CHRU Lille, Lille, France EA 2694, Public Health: Epidemiology and Quality of Care, University of Lille-Nord-de-France, Lille, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dubos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections; D015299:Discitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Epidemiology; Infectious Diseases; Orthopaedics; Paediatric Practice