title: Clinical and haematological predictors of acute hematogenous Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) osteomyelitis & septic arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the present study, we observed differences in the clinical and haematological parameters in patients of MRSA and non MRSA acute osteoarticular infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  For the patients of acute haematogenous osteomyelitis/septic arthritis, clinical features, haematological parameters and blood & aspirate cultures were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 81 patients enrolled in the study, 61 were culture positive (22% MRSA). Statistically significant difference was found only in CRP (P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis shows that CRP levels of >13.9 mg/L, MRSA bone and joint infection could be predicted with 92.9% sensitivity and 79.1% specificity (AUC = 89.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Estimation of serum CRP levels at the time of presentation can aid in distinguishing MRSA osteomyelitis from non MRSA one.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, JIPMER, Puducherry 605 006, India.
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, JIPMER, Puducherry 605 006, India.
authors.forename: Deep
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, JIPMER, Puducherry 605 006, India.
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dhiman
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, JIPMER, Puducherry 605 006, India.
authors.forename: Dilip Kumar
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Patro
keywords: Methicillin; Osteomyelitis; Resistance; Septic; Staphylococcus