Skeletal system infections in children are medical emergencies that, if not promptly diagnosed and treated, may result in serious morbidity and long-term disabilities. The isolation of the causative pathogen remains a cornerstone of the successful management of pediatric septic arthritis and osteomyelitis enabling confirmation of the diagnosis and administration of adequate antibiotic therapy. However, the traditional culture methods fail to identify the etiologic agent in a large fraction of patients. In recent years, the development and use of sensitive nucleic acid amplification tests have revolutionized the microbiological diagnosis of joint and bone infections, enabling the detection of difficult-to-recover bacteria and shortening of the time-to-identification from days to <24 hours.
The aim of this Research Topic is to present an update on the recent developments in the epidemiology, clinical presentation, laboratory diagnosis, and antimicrobial therapy of pediatric skeletal system infections.
Original research and review articles covering recent research advances in the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical disease, diagnosis, and therapy of joint, bone, and intervertebral disc infections in children are welcome.
Skeletal system infections in children are medical emergencies that, if not promptly diagnosed and treated, may result in serious morbidity and long-term disabilities. The isolation of the causative pathogen remains a cornerstone of the successful management of pediatric septic arthritis and osteomyelitis enabling confirmation of the diagnosis and administration of adequate antibiotic therapy. However, the traditional culture methods fail to identify the etiologic agent in a large fraction of patients. In recent years, the development and use of sensitive nucleic acid amplification tests have revolutionized the microbiological diagnosis of joint and bone infections, enabling the detection of difficult-to-recover bacteria and shortening of the time-to-identification from days to <24 hours.
The aim of this Research Topic is to present an update on the recent developments in the epidemiology, clinical presentation, laboratory diagnosis, and antimicrobial therapy of pediatric skeletal system infections.
Original research and review articles covering recent research advances in the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical disease, diagnosis, and therapy of joint, bone, and intervertebral disc infections in children are welcome.