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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

In vivo Macrophage Imaging Using MR Targeted Contrast Agent for Longitudinal Evaluation of Septic Arthritis
Published on: October 20, 2013
Endocarditis associated with vertebral osteomyelitis and septic arthritis of the axial skeleton
Oscar Murillo1, Imma Grau2, Joan Gomez-Junyent2
1Infectious Diseases Department, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, University of Barcelona, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. omurillo@bellvitgehospital.cat.
Purpose:
The relationship between infective endocarditis (IE) and osteoarticular infections (OAIs) are not well known. We aimed to study the characteristics of patients with IE and OAIs, and the interactions between these two infections.
Methods:
An observational study (1993-2014) which includes two cohorts: (1) patients with IE (n = 607) and (2) patients with bacteremic OAIs (n = 458; septic arthritis of peripheral and axial skeleton, and vertebral and peripheral osteomyelitis). These two cohorts were prospectively collected, and we retrospectively reviewed the clinical and microbiological variables.
Results:
There were 70 cases of IE with concomitant OAIs, representing 11.5% of IE cases and 15% of bacteremic OAI cases. Among cases with IE, the associated OAIs mainly involved the axial skeleton (n = 54, 77%): 43 were vertebral osteomyelitis (61%), mainly caused by "less virulent" bacteria (viridans and bovis streptococci, enterococci, and coagulase-negative staphylococci), and 15 were septic arthritis of the axial skeleton (21%), which were mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus. OAIs with involvement of the axial skeleton were associated with IE (adjusted OR = 2.2; 95% CI 1.1-4.3) independently of age, sex, and microorganisms.
Conclusions:
Among patients with IE, the associated OAIs mainly involve the axial skeleton. Transesophageal echocardiography should be carefully considered in patients presenting with these bacteremic OAIs.
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