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Guidelines
Osteomyelitis, 0-3 months

Osteomyelitis, 0-3 months

Routine Practices

  • Obtain blood cultures, CRP, ESR prior to starting antibiotics
  • Must tap joint for therapeutic purposes, prior to antibiotics if patient stable; send sample for culture
  • MRI of affected area
  • Recommend ID consult if not responding to treatment, delayed presentation, chronic or recurrent osteomyelitis, associated wound or abscess, unusual organism, foreign body (e.g., orthopedic hardware)

Most likely pathogens

Treatment Neonate

AND

OR

Treatment Infant 1-3 months

AND

Alternative Therapy

Usual Duration of Therapy

  • Acute uncomplicated osteomyelitis duration is usually 4 weeks
  • Switch to oral antibiotics after 3-4 days if clinically improved (no fever, using limb, and CRP trending down)
  • If bacteremic, may switch to oral antibiotics after 4-7 days if improving and uncomplicated course