Vol. 43 No. 5 (2026): October
Original Article

Acute osteoarticular infections in pediatric patients: a descriptive study in two tertiary-care hospitals

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  • Maria Luisa Beltran Echeverry,
  • Laura Parra Cárdenas,
  • David Andrade Fonseca,
  • William Bachiller,
  • German Camacho Moreno,
  • Daniela Ramirez Pertuz,
  • Juan David Soto García
Maria Luisa Beltran Echeverry
Departamento de Infectologia Pediatrica Sociedad de Cirugia de Bogota- Hospital San Jose; Universidad FUCS
Daniela Ramirez Pertuz
Hospital San José / FUCS, Bogotá, Colombia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4067/s0716-10182026000500157

Published 2026-10-01

Keywords

How to Cite

1.
Beltran Echeverry ML, Parra Cárdenas L, Andrade Fonseca D, Bachiller W, Camacho Moreno G, Ramirez Pertuz D, Soto García JD. Acute osteoarticular infections in pediatric patients: a descriptive study in two tertiary-care hospitals. Rev. Chilena. Infectol. [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 1 [cited 2026 Oct. 1];43(5). Available from: https://revinf.cl/index.php/revinf/article/view/2670

Copyright (c) 2026 Maria Luisa Beltran Echeverry, Laura Parra Cárdenas, David Andrade Fonseca, William Bachiller, German Camacho Moreno, Daniela Ramirez Pertuz, Juan David Soto García

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Introduction: Pediatric osteoarticular infections (OAIs) are diagnostically and therapeutically challenging. Local epidemiology is key to guiding empirical antimicrobial treatment and improving clinical outcomes.

Objective: To describe the characteristics of pediatric patients with OAIs treated at two high-complexity hospitals.

Patients and Method: A multicenter, retrospective, observational study (2018-2022) in patients under 18 years of age with osteomyelitis (OM), septic arthritis (SA), or a concomitant infection (SA+OM). Clinical, laboratory, microbiological, and therapeutic variables were analyzed.

Results: 56 patients were included; 33 (58.9%) male, with a median age of 11 years (IQR 6.7-13.4). Pain was the most common symptom. An etiological agent was identified in 37 patients (66.1%); 28 (73%) were Staphylococcus aureus; of these, 51.9% were methicillin-resistant (MRSA). MRSA infection was associated with a severe clinical course (OR 6.6; 95% CI 1.6-27.4; p=0.012), and 50% of these patients required an adjustment to their antibiotic regimen following the microbiological results.

Conclusions: The high prevalence of MRSA and its association with increased severity underscore the need for the multidisciplinary treatment team to undertake continuous education regarding clinical guidelines, promoting the recommendation to initiate empirical MRSA treatment in similar epidemiological settings.

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