Osteomyelitis

• See also:
  • Acute osteomyelitis
  • Chronic osteomyelitis
  • Osteomyelitis with orthopedic hardware

Management

• No clinically meaningful differences in bone penetration between classes of antibiotics exist1
• Bioavailability likely still important
• Empiric antimicrobials should generally cover MRSA, susceptible Gram-positives, and common Gram-negatives
  • For example, vancomycin plus ceftriaxone

Parenteral Antimicrobials

Organism	Antimicrobial Options
MSSA	nafcillin 2 g IV q4h
	oxacillin 2 g IV q4h
	cefazolin 2 g IV q8h
	flucloxacillin 2 g IV q6h
	ceftriaxone 2 g IV q24h
MRSA	vancomycin 20 mg/kg load followed by 15-20 mg IV q8-12h
	daptomycin 6 to 10 mg/kg IV daily
	teicoplanin 12 mg/kg IV q12h for 3 to 5 doses followed by q24h
Adjunctive staphylococcal agent	rifampin 300 to 450 mg PO bid
	fusidic acid 500 mg PO tid
Gram-negative bacteria	ciprofloxacin 750 mg PO big to 400 mg IV q12h
	levofloxacin 750 mg PO/IV daily
	ceftriaxone 2 g IV q24h
	ceftazidime 2 g IV q8h
	cefepime 2 g IV q8-12h
	ertapenem 1 g IV q24h
	meropenem 1 g IV q8h
Pseudomonas aeruginosa	ciprofloxacin 400 mg IV q8h
Enterococcus species	ampicillin 12 g continuous IV q24h
	ampicillin 2 g IV q4h
	penicillin G 20 to 24 million units continuous IV q24h
	penicillin G 3-4 million units IV q4h
	vancomycin 20 mg/kg IV load followed by 15 mg/kg IV q12h (max 2 g per dose)
	daptomycin 6 to 10 mg/kg IV daily
	teicoplanin 12 mg/kg IV q12h for 3 to 5 doses, followed by q24h
	ampicillin as above, PLUS ceftriaxone 2 g IV q12-24h
penicillin-susceptible streptococci	ampicillin 12 g continuous IV q24h
	ampicillin 2 g IV q4h
	penicillin G 20 to 24 million units continuous IV q24h
	penicillin G 3-4 million units IV q4h
	ceftriaxone 2 g IV q24h
	vancomycin 20 mg/kg IV load followed by 15 mg/kg IV q12h (max 2 g per dose)
Cutibacterium acnes	penicillin G 20 to 24 million units continuous IV q24h
	penicillin G 3-4 million units IV q4h
	ceftriaxone 2 g IV q24h

Oral Antimicrobials

Organism	Antibiotic Options
MSSA	cefadroxil 500 to 1000 mg PO bid
	cephalexin 500 mg PO tid to qid, or 1000 mg PO bid to tid
	dicloxacillin 500 mg PO tid to qid
	flucloxaxillin 500 mg PO tid to qid
MRSA	TMP-SMX DS 1 tablet PO bid
	doxycycline 100 mg PO bid
	minocycline 100 mg PO bid
	clindamycin 600 mg PO tid
Gram-negative bacteria	TMP-SMX DS 1 tablet PO bid
	ciprofloxacin 500 mg PO bid
	levofloxacin 500 mg PO daily
penicillin-susceptible streptococci and enterococci	amoxicillin 500 mg PO bid to tid
	penicillin VK 500 mg PO bid to tid
Cutibacterium acnes	amoxicillin 500 mg PO bid to tid
	penicillin VK 500 mg PO bid to tid