Clinical characteristics of children with disseminated Staphylococcus aureus infection involving bone and joint.

This retrospective study investigated the clinical characteristics and prognosis in 24 children (average age 5.6 ± 4.9 years) with disseminated Staphylococcus aureus bone and joint infections (May 2011-November 2022). Most infections (91.67%) were found to be associated with respiratory system infections. The femur (16 cases) was the most common bone; hip (6 cases) and knee (5 cases) were the most common joints. Notably, 14 cases (58.33%) had infections at > 3 osteoarticular sites, and 6 cases (25.00%) at > 4 sites (maximum 7). Cultures revealed 58.33% methicillin-resistant S. aureus ;(MRSA) and 41.67% methicillin-sensitive S. aureus ;(MSSA). All patients underwent surgery; 6 required secondary procedures. Patients were divided into sequelae (n = 10) and non-sequelae (n = 14) groups. The sequelae group had significantly longer time to surgery (11.20 ± 8.46 vs. 3.50 ± 2.53 days, p = 0.019), higher procalcitonin (27.28 ± 23.98 ng/ml vs. 9.02 ± 9.00 ng/ml, p = 0.043), and greater bacterial load (2760.86 ± 1592.02 vs. 155.25 ± 65.57, p = 0.005). Disseminated S. aureus bone and joint infections in children commonly affect the femur, hip, and knee. Delayed surgery and higher PCT levels are associated with sequelae.