Bone Infection Conditions Health Video

Bone infections, or osteomyelitis, are infections in the bone or bone marrow caused by bacteria. Learn more about bone infections, including treatments, in this health video.

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Do not smoke
Eat fruits & vegetables
Antibiotics or surgery may be needed

About this Author

Dr. Susan McGladdery is a medical graduate from Oxford University in the UK and has a Master's Degree in Medical Sciences from Cambridge University. She has been a member of the Royal College of Physicians since 1991 and a member of the American Academy of Urgent Care since 2006. She trained as a Family Physician in the UK in Oxford and then in London. In a medical career that spans over 20 years, she has worked as a doctor in 5 countries on 3 continents and cared for patients from a multitude of different nationalities and backgrounds. Dr. McGladdery joined FirstMed Centers in mid 2002 and became Regional Medical Director in 2003.

DR. SUSAN L. MCGLADDERRY, BM, BCH, MRCP: Hello, my name is Dr. Susan McGladerry, I'm the Medical Director from FirstMed Centers in Budapest, Hungary. I'd like to give you some information about bone infection. Bone infection or osteomyelitis occurs when infection, bacteria, or fungus enters bone from the bloodstream or nearby tissue or following open trauma or a surgical procedure. It most commonly affects the long bones of the body, the leg and the upper arm bone, but it can also affect the bones of the spine, the vertebra, or the feet, the pelvis, or even the collar bone. With Modern Medicine, osteomyelitis can be successfully treated using surgery and antibiotics, but it is a serious condition that requires aggressive treatment to prevent the spread of infection and to save the affected bone. So, who gets osteomyelitis? Well, it affects men more often than women. People of any age can develop osteomyelitis but it is most common in children and adults over the age of 50. In the case of children, they tend to get more of an acute problem with signs and symptoms that last a few months. In the case of adults, osteomyelitis is usually more of a chronic problem which lasts several months to years. For acute infections, antibiotic treatment is usually sufficient but in the case of chronic osteomyelitis, a chronic bone infection, this usually requires some kind of surgical procedure where the infected bone is removed and may be even an amputation is necessary. Antibiotics of course are also given. If you're experiencing bone pain along with signs and symptoms of an infection such as fever or chills, it is very important that you see your doctor. If you know that you're to increase risk of infection because you have another medical condition, perhaps diabetes or circulatory problem or if you've had recent surgery or some kind of injury, then it's also very important to get early medical advice. If you're having treatment for osteomyelitis, you should help your body to fight the infection. The things that you can do include stopping smoking because smoking disturbs the blood flow to the hands and the feet and disturbs the body's ability to fight infection. You should also eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. If you have diabetes or another disease that affects your ability to fight infections, you need to follow your doctor's instructions closely to try and manage your disease as best you possibly can. And even if your osteomyelitis is controlled, you should continue following your doctor's recommendations very closely. This may prevent you having another episode of osteomyelitis in the future.