Osteomyelitis is a painful bone infection. It usually goes away if treated early with antibiotics, if not, it can cause permanent damage. It affects the long bones in the legs, and those in the back and arms can also be affected. Anyone can develop osteomyelitis, but you are more sat risk of getting an infection in the bone if you have recently fractured a bone, have been injured or have a wound, have an artificial hip or screw in a bone, recently had bone surgery, have a weakened immune system or suffer from diabetes.

Symptoms of osteomyelitis include fever, swelling, warmth, and redness over the area of the infection, pain in the area of infections, and fatigue. Sometimes osteomyelitis causes no signs or symptoms.

Osteomyelitis is caused by staphylococcus bacteria, a germ that is commonly found on the skin or in the nose, even healthy individuals. The bacteria can enter a bone in a variety of ways, including through the bloodstream, as a result of an injury or in surgery.

There is no blood test available to determine if you have osteomyelitis, however, a blood test may reveal elevated levels of white blood cells, an indication that your body is fighting an infection. A bone biopsy can reveal what type of germ has infected your bone. Knowing this your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic that works effectively for that type of infection.

Depending on the severity of the infection, surgery to remove the portions of bone that are dead or infected may be required. Antibiotics administered intravenously will be given at the hospital following the surgery.