A dedicated team approach enhances outcomes of osteomyelitis treatment

To assess the impact of a dedicated musculoskeletal infection team, 70 musculoskeletal infections (traumatic and non-traumatic chronic osteomyelitis, Cierny-Mader Type III or IV) in 58 patients with were treated in two groups. Group I (43 infections) was treated with the assistance of an on-call infectious disease specialist. Group II (27 infections) was treated with the assistance of a dedicated musculoskeletal infectious disease specialist. Overall, there was a 42% success in Group I compared with 78% success in Group II. When stratified by infection type, in patients with Type III infections, there was a 56% success in Group I and a 90% success rate in Group II. For patients with Type IV infections, there was a 25% success rate in Group I and a 71% success rate in Group II. The participation of the dedicated musculoskeletal infectious disease specialist significantly improved patient outcomes.