Osteomyelitis simply means an infection of the bone or bone marrow. It can be usefully subclassified on the basis of the causative organism (pyogenic bacteria or mycobacteria), the route, duration and anatomic location of the infection.
Diagnosis of osteomyelitis is often based on radiologic results showing a lytic center with a ring of sclerosis. Culture of material taken from a bone biopsy is needed to identify the specific pathogen; alternative sampling methods such as needle puncture or surface swabs are easier to perform, but do not produce reliable results.
Factors that may commonly complicate osteomyelitis are fractures of the bone, amyloidosis, endocarditis, or sepsis.
Nursing Diagnosis for Osteomyelitis :
- Pain
- Imbalanced Nutrition, Less Than Body Requirements
- Ineffective Thermoregulation
- Impaired Skin Integrity
- Disturbed Body Image
- Risk for Infection
