Osteomyelitis: an overview of antimicrobial therapy

Osteomyelitis is an inflammatory bone disorder caused by infection, leading to necrosis and destruction of bone. It can affect all ages, involve any bone, become a chronic disease and cause persistent morbidity. Treatment of osteomyelitis is challenging particularly when complex multiresistant bacterial biofilm has already been established. Bacteria in biofilm persist in a low metabolic phase, causing persistent infection due to increased resistance to antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis are the most common causative organism responsible for more than 50% of osteomyelitis cases. Osteomyelitis treatment implies the administration of high doses of antibiotics (AB) by means of endovenous and oral routes and should take a period of at least 6 weeks. Local drug delivery systems, using non-biodegradable (polymethylmethacrylate) or biodegradable and osteoactive materials such as calcium orthophosphates bone cements, have been shown to be promising alternatives for the treatment of osteomyelitis. These systems allow the local delivery of AB in situ with bactericidal concentrations for long periods of time and without the toxicity associated with other means of administration. This review examines the most recent literature evidence on the causes, pathogeneses and pharmacological treatment of osteomyelitis. The study methodology consisted of a literature review in Google Scholar, Science Direct, Pubmed, Springer link, B-on. Papers from 1979 till present were reviewed and evaluated.