CLINICAL FEATURE AND ETIOLOGY OF SEPTIC ARTHRITIS AND OSTEOMYELITIS IN CHILDREN

Currently there is little information regarding septic arthritis and osteomyelitis in iran. thisretrospective study has been conducted to assess the clinical features and determine the pathogensresponsible for septic arthritis and osteomyelitis in patients admitted to our hospital over a 10 yearperiod between 1995 and 2005. a total of 145 cases of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis were studied.the mean age of patients was 18 month, 56.5% (82/145) were male and 43.5% (63/145) were female.the most frequent presenting symptom was pain reported by 69.6% of the patients. fever atpresentation defined as an oral temperature above or equal to 38◦ c was present in 67.5% of the patients.71 of 145 (48.9%) cases of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis that reviewed in this investigation wereculture positive that 71.8 % (51/71) of microorganisms recovered from synovial fluid culture. moreover8.4% (6/71) of microorganisms isolated from blood culture alone, while 19.7% (14/71) ofmicroorganisms recovered from both synovial fluid and blood culture. staphylococcus aureus was themost common pathogen isolated, making up 60.5% of all positive culture. coagulase negativestaphylococci and klebsiella sp. was found in 7 cases (9.8%) and 10 cases (14%) respectively. group bstreptococcus identified in 5 patients (7%). the present study highlights the importance ofcharacterizing the profile of species causing septic arthritis or osteomyelitis in specific regions.© 2007 tehran university of medical sciences. all rights reserved.acta medica iranica, 45(1): 58-62; 2007