What Is Osteomyelitis?
3. Causes
A bacterial infection is often behind a case of osteomyelitis, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most common cause. However, osteomyelitis can also be caused by a fungal infection. Osteomyelitis either starts in the bone itself or results from an infection that spreads to the bone from elsewhere in the body.
Surgery on a bone or joint can cause an infection that results in osteomyelitis. A bone can also be exposed to bacteria due to a chronic wound in the skin, a puncture that extends down to the bone or adjacent tissues, or a fracture that pushes a fragment of the bone through the skin, exposing it to the air.
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