Oral Flucloxacillin for Treating Osteomyelitis: A Narrative Review of Clinical Practice

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Oral flucloxacillin (FLU) is frequently prescribed for infections.
• Limited data exist on oral FLU's efficacy for osteomyelitis (OM) compared to other treatments.
• Expert opinion often favors other oral antibiotics with better bone penetration for OM.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on oral FLU for osteomyelitis.
• To compare the efficacy of oral FLU with other oral antibiotics in treating OM.
• To assess oral FLU's effectiveness across different OM types (acute/chronic, pediatric/adult).

Main Methods:

• Literature search for studies on oral FLU in osteomyelitis treatment.
• Stratification of studies by acute vs. chronic and pediatric vs. adult cases.
• Analysis of clinical outcomes and failure rates.

Main Results:

• Oral FLU treatment for OM did not show higher clinical failure rates compared to other oral antibiotics.
• Despite prevailing opinions, available data suggest comparable efficacy.
• Oral FLU is noted for its narrow spectrum, low cost, and infrequent severe adverse effects.

Conclusions:

• Oral flucloxacillin may be a viable treatment option for osteomyelitis.
• Further prospective trials are needed to confirm its effectiveness and advantages.
• Current clinical practice widely uses oral FLU due to its favorable characteristics.