Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert

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GET THE BACKGROUND ON OSTEOMYELITIS

Osteomyelitis is a bone infection that is usually caused by one of a variety of microbial agents. The infection may start in another part of the body and spread to the bone by blood. The infected bone produces pus, which may cause an abscess that deprives the bone of its blood supply.

Trauma, diabetes, hemodialysis and intravenous drug use put a person at risk of contracting osteomyelitis. Symptoms of osteomyelitis can include pain; swelling, redness and warmth; fever and nausea.

Osteomyelitis can be acute or chronic. Chronic osteomyelitis occurs when bone tissue dies as a result of lost blood supply.

Osteomyelitis can be detected through blood tests, blood cultures, needle aspiration, biopsy or bone scan. Treatments for osteomyelitis include drainage, antibiotic medication, immobilization and surgery.

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