Treat children with acute haematogenous osteomyelitis with sequential intravenous/oral β-lactamase-resistant penicillins

Staphylococcus aureus is the principal cause of typical acute haematogenous osteomyelitis (AHOM), a bone infection that is most common in children. If the response to a brief course of empirical intravenous β-lactamase-resistant penicillin is rapid, such therapy can be followed by a course of oral therapy. Patients with atypical AHOM, or who respond poorly to initial β-lactamase-resistant penicillin therapy, warrant further assessment; they may require a longer duration of therapy than patients with typical AHOM. Surgical intervention is required in some patients. Patients should be monitored for at least 2 years to detect any complications. © 2005 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved.