Acute Osetomyelitis

Osteomyelitis can present with a wide spectrum of symptoms.

Cultures should ideally be taken from bone or a periosteal aspirate and should not be taken 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 increases the pre-test probability for osteomyelitis.