[Choice of first-line antibiotic therapy in the treatment of bone and joint infections in children].

Because of the frequency of Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus in joint and bone sepsis in children, a prospective study of first line antibiotic therapy was performed. In a series of 23 cases, including 8 osteomyelitis and 15 arthritis, Gram stain on joint fluid or antigen detection was helpful in reaching a decision about initial therapy in only 3 cases (Haemophilus influenzae). In 20 of the 23 patients, the first line antibiotic therapy was cefotaxime (100 mg/kg/day) and fosfomycin (100 mg/kg/day) in combination. In 6 of them, the bacteriologic culture was positive (3 Staphylococcus aureus, 1 Haemophilus influenzae and 2 Streptococcus pneumoniae) and the initial antibiotic therapy was changed according to the antibiotic susceptibility testing. In the others 14 cases, from whom no agent was isolated, this combination was continued during about 15 days, then followed by pristinamycin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid in combination during one month. The C. reactive protein dosage was performed in each patient. All children cured. In view of these first results, cefotaxime and fosfomycin in combination seems to us to be interesting in first line antibiotic treatment without initial orientation.