Introduction:

Osteomyelitis is an infection in the bone, most frequently affecting patients in pediatric ages, with a variety of behavior on how to reach the bone, type of germ and host response.

Objective:

To describe the behavior of a group of pediatric patients affected with osteomyelitis.

Method:

A descriptive observational study was conducted in 39 patients attended at the Hospital Provincial Pediátrico Dr. Eduardo Agramonte Piña in the city of Camagüey, from January 1 2018 to December 31 2022. Patients diagnosed with osteomyelitis throughout 60 months in total.

Results:

Of the 39 patients studied, the male sex predominated over the female (2.2 to 1). The average age was 9 years old. The average lenght of hospital stay was 14.8 days. The most affected areas were the hands, femur and distal tibia. Surgical treatment predominated (2.2 to 1) in relation to conservative treatment. In the 86.4% of cases, hematogenous osteomyelitis was the most frequent infection. The transition to chronic osteomyelitis was the most common complication (33%). The most common isolated germ was staphylococcus aureus (in 85 % of the patients). The most indicated antimicrobials agents were cefazolin, amikacin and fostomycin (Fosfocin).

Conclusions:

The results of this research provided some important elements base on the epidemiological point of view for pediatric patients with osteomyelitis, also allowed the implementation of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in this group of patients.

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