Final answer:
The bacterium that is most commonly associated with both septic arthritis and osteomyelitis is Staphylococcus aureus. Osteomyelitis can have various causes but is typically treated with antibacterial drugs and sometimes requires surgery or other treatments such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy or antibiotic implants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common cause of both septic arthritis and osteomyelitis is Staphylococcus aureus. While Salmonella is indeed associated with infections such as salmonellosis, it is not the leading cause of osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis is an inflammation of bone tissue, which can be either acute or chronic, involving various types of bacteria, but predominantly S. aureus. Treatment typically involves the use of broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs, and in cases of antibiotic resistance, medications such as vancomycin.
Signs and symptoms include fever, pain, swelling, and possible formation of ulcers at the site of infection. Complications can lead to tissue damage, bone loss, infectious arthritis, or even sepsis. Diagnosis is typically via radiography, imaging, and culture of bacteria from blood or bone. The extensive vascularization of children's bones makes them more vulnerable, especially to infections of long bones like the femur.