According to the Mayo Clinic, osteomyelitis is a bacterial or fungal infection of a bone. You can get a bone infection after a compound fracture, because this involves the bone breaking through the skin. Bacteria or fungi can also reach a bone by traveling through the bloodstream from infections in places such as the upper respiratory tract or the urinary tract, the Mayo Clinic says. The Johns Hopkins Point of Care Information Technology Center ABX Guide says acute and chronic osteomyelitis require aggressive intravenous antibiotics, followed by oral antibiotics.
Nafcillin (Unipen)
According to Medline Plus, nafcillin is an antibiotic that you take by intramuscular of intravenous injection. Doctors prescribe it for the treatment of bacterial infections, which include urinary tract, bone, joint, blood and heart valve infections. The Johns Hopkins ABX Guide says nafcillin is used for osteomyelitis caused by the bacterium methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), and the treatment regimen is 2g administered intravenously every four hours over the course of four to six weeks. You receive this medication while under a doctor's care in a hospital. According to Medline Plus, serious side effects stemming from an allergic reaction to nafcillin are rash, itching, fever, chills, facial swelling, difficulty breathing, dizziness and seizures. More common side effects include upset stomach and diarrhea.
Ceftriaxone (Rocephin)
Drugs.com says ceftriaxone is an injectable antibiotic that's in the cephalosporin class of drugs and can treat various types of bacterial infections. The adult dose for osteomyelitis is 2g administered intravenously or intramuscularly by your doctor every 24 hours over four to six weeks. This medication is used for cases of osteomyelitis caused by a combination of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and streptococci. You may be able to get treatment on an outpatient basis. According to Drugs.com, serious side effects of ceftriaxone injection include bloody diarrhea, fever or chills, blistering, peeling and red skin rash, white patches or sores inside your mouth, urinating less frequently or not at all, and swelling and pain at the injection site. Call your doctor immediately if you notice any of these problems. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache and dizziness.
Cefepime (Maxipime)
Cefepime is a prescription medication administered by injection for the treatment of bacterial infections, the Mayo Clinic says. It's a cephalosporin antibiotic that destroys bacteria or keeps them from growing. According to the Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, cefepime is appropriate for cases of osteomyelitis caused by gram-negative bacteria. You receive 2g intravenously every 12 hours over four to six weeks; a doctor or other health care professional gives you the drug. Side effects of cefepime injection therapy include abdominal cramps, bleeding gums, chills, confusion, convulsions, difficulty breathing, mood or mental changes, and muscle cramps in the hands, feet, arms, legs or face.
