Osteomyelitis: Keep it Clean!
OSTEOMYELITIS…. we hear this term frequently in our spinal cord injury community but do we know what it really means? Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone, a rare but serious condition. Bones can become infected in a number of ways: Infection in one part of the body may spread through the bloodstream into the bone, or an open fracture or surgery may expose the bone to infection.
Stay with us now, this is a short article. Down and dirty, quick information.
WHAT CAUSES OSTEOMYELITIS?
Usually a bacterium caused staph aureus causes osteomyelitis. Staph is a common bacterium that may live on skin or in the noses of some but it doesn’t cause an infection. When staph minds it’s own business on the skin, life is good. But when a wound is open bacteria can enter and wreak havoc. There are several strains of staph. You will hear the term MRSA, which is Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus, meaning that form of staph doesn’t respond to Methicillin antibiotics. That’s why we have to be so careful with our skin and our skin tears or sores. They can allow staph to enter, and then we have a problem. Also, be aware that certain conditions that weaken the body’s immune system can increase a person's risk for osteomyelitis. This includes people with diabetes. (So keep an eye on those feet!)
TREATMENT FOR OSTEOMYELITIS
Treatment starts with antibiotics. (The Rollin’ RNs penned another article on Antibiotic Resistance.) Staying ahead of issues pertaining to spinal cord injury is such a slippery slope for us. We need antibiotics to work immediately when we require them. If antibiotics are not working then surgery may be recommended. Surgery removes the infection of tissue and bone from spreading faster. If the osteomyelitis is not treated quickly, amputation may result and we don’t want to get to that point. Another set back to not treating osteomyelitis quickly is that it can become a chronic condition. Once chronic osteomyelitis is established, the person affected may have periods of almost no symptoms. However, symptoms can flare up at any time. If you have chronic osteomyelitis, make sure your doctor knows about your medical history so you can work together to keep the condition under control.
PREVENTION OF OSTEOMYELITIS
Keep it clean. Simple as that. Meticulous skin inspection and care. The presence of osteomyelitis should be considered in every patient with a wound that does not heal. That will require a culture and/or biopsy for correct lab determination. Remember, final lab cultures take 72 hours to be complete. So, results will not be immediate.
Bottom line– take immediate action for your own body. Be proactive if your skin receives a tear or sore to avoid this complication. You do not want to learn firsthand about osteomyelitis.
It’s all good, so keep on rollin’.
Patty, BSN, RNC and Roberta, RN
The Rollin’ RNs ™
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