[Short duration of initial intravenous treatment in 70 pediatric patients with osteoarticular infections]. / Tratamiento intravenoso inicial abreviado en 70 pacientes pediátricos con infecciones osteo-articulares.

UNLABELLED: Osteoarticular infections (OAI) are infrequent in pediatrics and there is controversy on the need for prolonged use of intravenous antimicrobials. OBJECTIVE: To characterize and describe evolution and complications of a regimen of 7 days initial intravenous antibiotic treatment for OAI in children, completing 4-6 weeks of total treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a large pediatric hospital, 70 children younger than 15 years of age were diagnosed with OAI between March 2003 and December 2004. Children received 7 days of intravenous antibiotics followed by 3 to 5 weeks of oral treatment. RESULTS: Incidence of OAI in this hospital was 1.8:10000. Patients mean age was 6.4 +/-4.4 years and 60% presented with septic arthritis, 36% osteomyelitis and 4% osteoarthritis. In 80% of cases, the infection was located in the lower extremity. Positive cultures were obtained in 59% predominating Staphylococcus aureus (46.5%). Seven patients had prolonged pain or persistently high or increasing serum C reactive protein levels and were maintained on prolonged intravenous therapy. None of the 63 children with 7 day intravenous antimicrobials nor the 7 children with prolonged intravenous use developed a complication in the short-term follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Seven days of intravenous antibiotic for the initial phase of OAI treatment was effective in a majority of children and may be recommended.

Tratamiento intravenoso inicial abreviado en 70 pacientes pediátricos con infecciones osteo-articulares / Short duration of initial intravenous treatment in 70 pediatric patients with osteoarticular infections

Osteoarticular infections (OAI) are infrequent in pediatrics and there is controversy on the need for prolonged use of intravenous antimicrobials. Objective: To characterize and describe evolution and complications of a regimen of 7 days initial intravenous antibiotic treatment for OAI in children, completing 4-6 weeks of total treatment. Patients and methods: In a large pediatric hospital, 70 children younger than 15 years of age were diagnosed with OAI between March 2003 and December 2004. Children received 7 days of intravenous antibiotics followed by 3 to 5 weeks of oral treatment. Results: Incidence of OAI in this hospital was 1.8:10000. Patients mean age was 6.4 ±4.4 years and 60 percent presented with septic arthritis, 36 percent osteomyelitis and 4 percent osteoarthritis. In 80 percent of cases, the infection was located in the lower extremity. Positive cultures were obtained in 59 percent predominating Staphylococcus aureus (46.5 percent). Seven patients had prolonged pain or persistantly high or increasing serum C reactive protein levels and were maintained on prolonged intravenous therapy. None of the 63 children with 7 day intravenous antimicrobials nor the 7 children with prolonged intravenous use developed a complication in the short-term follow up. Conclusions: Seven days of intravenous antibiotic for the initial phase of OAI treatment was effective in a majority of children and may be recommended.

Las infecciones osteoarticulares (IOA) son poco frecuentes en pediatría. Existe controversia acerca de la óptima duración y la vía de administración de la terapia antimicrobiana. Objetivo: Caracterizar y describir la evolución y complicaciones en niños con IOA que recibieron 7 días iniciales de terapia endovenosa, completando 4 a 6 semanas de terapia total. Pacientes y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, que incluyó a 70 niños con diagnóstico de IOA, entre marzo de 2003 y diciembre de 2004 en un hospital pediátrico, quienes recibieron tratamiento endovenoso abreviado a 7 días, seguido de terapia oral por 3 a 5 semanas. Resultados: La incidencia de IOA fue de 1,8: 10.000 niños bajo 15 años de edad. El promedio de edad fue 6,4 ± 4,4 años. Sesenta por ciento presentaba artritis séptica, 36 por ciento osteomielitis y 4 por ciento osteoartritis. En 80 por ciento la infección se localizó en extremidades inferiores. Los cultivos fueron positivos en 59 por ciento. En 46,5 por ciento se aisló Staphylococcus aureus. Siete niños evolucionaron con dolor persistente o elevación significativa de PCR y requirieron prolongar la terapia endovenosa y/o total, sin presentar complicaciones a corto plazo. Conclusiones: Siete días de terapia antimicrobiana intravenosa parece ser efectivo y recomendable para el tratamiento, en su fase inicial, de las infecciones osteo-articulares.