Chronic osteomyelitis; microbiology of long bones in a tertiary care hospital

ABSTRACT

To determine the causative organism of long bone chronic osteomylitis through culture of the sequestrum. Descriptive case series. Orthopaedic Surgery Unit, Mardan Medical Complex Teaching hospital, Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan, KPK, Pakistan from September 2011 to April 2012. Twenty five patients with radiologically proven chronic osteomyelitis of long bones who had been free of antibiotic therapy for at least 48 hours, excluding those with diabetic foot, decubitus ulcers, and infected implant. At least one specimen of sequestrum was taken from each individual and subjected to complete microbiologic analysis. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently found organism [n=11, 44%], followed by Enterobacteriaceae [n=5, 20%], coagulase-negative staphylococci [n=3,12%] Escherichia coli [n=2, 8%] P aeruginosa [n=1, 4%], Streptococcus species [n=1, 4%] and no growth [n=2, 8%].More than one microorganism was isolated in two [8%] patients. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated. Sequestrum culture provides accurate identification of causative bacteria