Osteomyelitis

Note

Cultures from bone or a periosteal aspirate are essential for targeted treatment, and should not be collected from superficial ulcers or wounds.

Antibiotics should be withheld until cultures are obtained, unless patient is systemically ill or there is concomitant soft tissue infection.

A positive probe-to-bone test in diabetic foot ulcers confirms osteomyelitis.

Cure rate is improved by surgical debridement of dead bone and associated abscesses