Experience of non-tubercular osteomyelitis and pyogenic arthritis in our hospital

Forty-nine patients who were hospitalized in Nagasaki University between February, 1977 and July, 1985, were examined in order to know the trend about the bacterial infections of bones and joints.Most of the bacillus in 37 cases of osteomyelitis and in 12 cases of pyogenic arthritis were staphylococcus aureus. There was a tendency of increase of the subacute and chronic types of osteomyelitis, and the pyogenic arthritis which was followed by puncture of the knee joint. Our results suggested that while diagnosing the osteomyelitis, the recognition of the existence of the subacute osteomyelitis is very important, and that we must pay more attention to prevent the iatrogenic infection.