title: Fusobacterium nucleatum Osteomyelitis in 3 Previously Healthy Children: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.
abstract: Fusobacterium nucleatum is a rare cause of monomicrobial osteomyelitis in children. We describe the cases of 3 children with F. nucleatum osteomyelitis of the distal femoral epiphysis with concurrent septic arthritis and review 6 other cases reported in the literature. Our report emphasizes the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for anaerobic osteomyelitis, given its atypical presentation and the unique growth requirements of anaerobic bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.
authors.forename: Seth W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases.
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Boyce
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Surgery.
authors.forename: A Noelle
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics, Kansas City, Missouri.
authors.forename: Mary Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000382:microbiology; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology
keywords: anaerobic osteomyelitis; epiphyseal lesion; pediatric