Long-term follow-up of ambulatory management of osteomyelitis

Over four years, 50 patients with osteomyelitis (32 classified as acute and 18 as subacute or chronic disease) were treated with oral antibiotics in an ambulatory setting. The profile of clinical and laboratory parameters, including etiologic agents, was similar to previous series. Forty-eight patients initially received parenteral drugs, mean duration 14 days (range 0-36). Oral agents administered at home included cephalosporins, clindamycin, dicloxacillin, penicillin VK, amoxicillin, and sulfa-trimethoprim. Mean duration of total therapy was 53.2 days (range 16-365). In follow-up, ranging from 12 to 60 months (mean 35), relapses occurred in one patient with acute and one with chronic disease. Both responded to oral treatment. No residual infection has resulted, although clinical and radiographic sequelae remain in six more patients initially termed subacute or chronic. Long-term follow-up of patients receiving high-dose oral antibiotic therapy for osteomyelitis due to sensitive organisms confirms the safety and efficacy of this mode of treatment and the feasibility of ambulatory management. The outcome after oral therapy is equivalent to that following parenteral therapy. Patients with subacute or chronic disease have a significantly poorer prognosis despite a milder initial illness and longer course of therapy.