Marco Roversi1, Elena Chiappini2, Renato Maria Toniolo3, Marco Cirillo4, Fabio Natale5, Daniele Deriu6, Annalisa Grandin7, Laura Lancella7, Luisa Galli2, Alberto Villani7, Andrzej Krzysztofiak7. 1. University of Rome Tor Vergata, Residency School of Paediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. marco.roversi@opbg.net. 2. Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy. 3. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. 4. Department of Imaging, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. 5. Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urologic Science, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Rome, Italy. 6. University of Rome Tor Vergata, Residency School of Paediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. 7. Paediatric and Infectious Disease Unit, Academic Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study is to report and compare our data with the most relevant literature of the past decade about neonatal osteomyelitis. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively review the data of 22 subjects aged 35 days or less who were admitted to three different sites in Italy with a radiological diagnosis of osteomyelitis. The inherent literature was searched and reviewed: five studies were considered for comparison with our data. RESULTS: All the neonates, except three (two pre-term and one post-term), were born at term. The male to female ratio was 1.75 (14 males and 8 females). The mean age at presentation was 19.5 days. The most common presenting signs of the infection were local swelling and reduced mobility of the affected segment. The most common sites of infection were the femur, humerus, and tibia. The mean duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy was 29.5 days. In most neonates the diagnosis was prompt and the antibiotic treatment immediate. A low rate of sequelae was reported. All infants survived through follow up. The data from the inherent literature showed a wide variability, probably owing to the setting and the historical period of the different studies. CONCLUSION: Neonatal osteomyelitis is an alarming yet poorly understood disease. Nonetheless, our report suggests that a quick diagnosis and treatment can be easily achieved, with good outcome on the remarkably plastic structure of neonatal bones.
OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study is to report and compare our data with the most relevant literature of the past decade about neonatal osteomyelitis. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively review the data of 22 subjects aged 35 days or less who were admitted to three different sites in Italy with a radiological diagnosis of osteomyelitis. The inherent literature was searched and reviewed: five studies were considered for comparison with our data. RESULTS: All the neonates, except three (two pre-term and one post-term), were born at term. The male to female ratio was 1.75 (14 males and 8 females). The mean age at presentation was 19.5 days. The most common presenting signs of the infection were local swelling and reduced mobility of the affected segment. The most common sites of infection were the femur, humerus, and tibia. The mean duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy was 29.5 days. In most neonates the diagnosis was prompt and the antibiotic treatment immediate. A low rate of sequelae was reported. All infants survived through follow up. The data from the inherent literature showed a wide variability, probably owing to the setting and the historical period of the different studies. CONCLUSION: Neonatal osteomyelitis is an alarming yet poorly understood disease. Nonetheless, our report suggests that a quick diagnosis and treatment can be easily achieved, with good outcome on the remarkably plastic structure of neonatal bones.
Authors: Andrzej Krzysztofiak; Marco Roversi; Antonio Musolino; Marco Cirillo; Renato Maria Toniolo; Osvaldo Mazza; Livia Gargiullo; Laura Lancella; Paolo Rossi; Alberto Villani Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2022-09-01 Impact factor: 4.996