Bone Infections

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Bone Infections

Basics

Summary
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Diagnosis and Tests
Treatments and Therapies

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Summary

Like other parts of the body, bones can get infected. The infections are usually bacterial, but can also be fungal. They may spread to the bone from nearby skin or muscles, or from another part of the body through the bloodstream. People who are at risk for bone infections include those with diabetes, poor circulation, or recent injury to the bone. You may also be at risk if you are having hemodialysis.

Symptoms of bone infections include

Pain in the infected area
Chills and fever
Swelling, warmth, and redness

A blood test or imaging test such as an x-ray can tell if you have a bone infection. Treatment includes antibiotics and often surgery.

Start Here

Osteomyelitis (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Osteomyelitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Diagnosis and Tests

Bone Scan (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Bone X-Ray (Radiography) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
MRI of the Musculoskeletal System (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Bone Diseases, Infectious (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Osteomyelitis (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Reference Desk

Bones, Muscles, and Joints: The Musculoskeletal System (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish

Teenagers

Osteomyelitis (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

Bone lesion biopsy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Bone pain or tenderness (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Disseminated tuberculosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Osteomyelitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Osteomyelitis - children (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Osteomyelitis - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish