Final answer:
Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone primarily caused by Staphylococcus aureus, presenting with fever, pain, and swelling. It is treated with various antibiotics or surgery in severe cases, with vancomycin used for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
Osteomyelitis is an infection and inflammation of the bone or bone marrow that can be either acute or chronic. The most common bacterium causing osteomyelitis is Staphylococcus aureus. The infection often arises following a trauma, surgical procedures, prosthetic joint replacements, or can spread from other parts of the body to the bones via the bloodstream.
The symptoms of osteomyelitis typically include fever, localized pain, swelling due to edema, and sometimes the formation of ulcers in the soft tissues near the site of infection. In serious cases, the infection might lead to infectious arthritis, sepsis, and thrombosis. Diagnosis is usually made using a combination of radiography, imaging, or blood and bone cultures when seeking to identify the causative bacteria.
When it comes to treatment, parenteral antibiotic therapy is a common approach, using broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs such as nafcillin, oxacillin, cephalosporin, ampicillin, and piperacillin/tazobactam, to target the infectious agents. In the cases where the bacteria is not antibiotic-resistant, these treatments are effective. However, when bacteria exhibit antibiotic resistance, vancomycin may be necessary. If the condition is severe enough to cause significant bone damage, surgical intervention to remove the infected tissue may become necessary. Additional treatments include hyperbaric oxygen therapy and implantation of antibiotic beads or pumps.