Update on the Management of Pediatric Acute Osteomyelitis and Septic Arthritis.
Acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis are two infections whose frequencies are increasing in pediatric patients. Acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis need to be carefully assessed, diagnosed, and treated to avoid devastating sequelae. Traditionally, the treatment of acute osteoarticular infection in pediatrics was based on prolonged intravenous anti-infective therapy. However, results from clinical trials have suggested that in uncomplicated cases, a short course of a few days of parenteral antibiotics followed by oral therapy is safe and effective. The aim of this review is to provide clinicians an update on recent controversies and advances regarding the management of acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in children. In recent years, the emergence of bacterial species resistant to commonly used antibiotics that are particularly aggressive highlights the necessity for further research to optimize treatment approaches and to develop new molecules able to fight the war against acute osteoarticular infection in pediatric patients.
Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Universit&#224; degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy. lucacastellazzi@libero.it.
Luca
L
Castellazzi
Respiratory Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Universit&#224; degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy. marco.mantero@unimi.it.
Marco
M
Mantero
Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Universit&#224; degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy. susanna.esposito@unimi.it.
Susanna
S
Esposito
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents
anti-infective therapy; antibiotics; osteoarticular infection; osteomyelitis; septic arthritis