Short Antibiotic Treatment Duration for Osteomyelitis Complicating Pressure Ulcers: A Quasi-experimental Study

The study investigates the optimal antibiotic treatment duration for osteomyelitis complicating pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). Pressure ulcers are common in SCI patients due to factors like reduced mobility and vascular disorders, often leading to osteomyelitis. The research compares outcomes of SCI patients with pressure ulcer-related osteomyelitis who underwent surgical debridement and flap coverage, followed by either a short (5-7 days) or a longer (10 days) course of effective antibiotic treatment. The findings suggest that a shorter course of antibiotics (5-7 days) combined with surgical intervention is a safe and effective strategy for managing osteomyelitis complicating pressure ulcers in SCI patients.

• 1
  A 5 to 7-day antibiotic treatment following surgical debridement and flap covering appears to be a safe and effective treatment strategy for osteomyelitis complicating pressure ulcers.
• 2
  The presence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in intraoperative samples was not associated with worse outcomes in the study population.
• 3
  Positive cultures from suction drainage were identified as a risk factor associated with treatment failure, suggesting insufficient surgical debridement.