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There are several treatment options for treating osteomyelitis and septic arthritis and the primary goal should be eliminating the infection and preventing it from developing into a chronic condition.
Antibiotics
If the infection is caused by the bacteria, it's often treated with antibiotics.
Patient can receive the drugs intravenously and the treatment could last from two to six weeks. In some cases, especially with children, oral antibiotics following an initial intravenous dose may be effective. The treatment you receive depends on the: type of bacteria, the location of the infection, the type of surgery that might be done, and other health conditions or issues you might have.
The most commonly used antibiotics are:
- Nafcillin (Nafcil, Unipen)
- Cefazolin (Ancef)
- Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
- Ceftazidime (Fortaz, Ceptaz)
- Clindamycin (Cleocin)
- Vancomycin (Vancocin)
- Drainage
The doctor may drain soft tissue abscesses or pockets of fluid surrounding the infected bones or joints, if needed. In cases of septic arthritis, ther doctor may use a needle to drain the pus from the joint on a daily basis. He may also use an instrument called arthroscope to clean the joint. If the infection is serious and couldn’t be resolved by drainage, he may need to open the joint surgically to remove damaged tissue and infection.
Surgery
Surgery is usually necessary, especially if the infection is chronic or if a patient has some hardware implanted such as metal plates or artificial joints.
Prevention
The easiest way to prevent osteomyelitis is to practice good hygiene. This means that, if you get a cut or a wound, you make sure you clean it thoroughly. Wash it with simple toilet soap and water, holding it under running water for at least 5 minutes to flush it out.
To keep the wound clean afterward, you should cover it with sterile gauze or a clean cloth. You can apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream, too, but the most important thing is to keep the injury clean.