OSTEOMYELITIS DUE TO BACILLUS-CEREUS IN AN ADOLESCENT - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW

Non-anthracis Bacillus species associated with clinical infections are usually dismissed as contaminants or nonpathogens. As opportunists, h owever, Bacillus organisms can cause significant systemic infections i ncluding bacteremia, endophthalmitis, and pneumonia. Osteomyelitis wit h non-anthracis Bacillus organisms has been described in adults, altho ugh to our knowledge it has been described only once in a child. We re port a case of chronic osteomyelitis due to Staphylococcus aureus and superinfection with Bacillus cereus in a 13-year-old adolescent. A Bac illus isolate should be considered a true pathogen in children with ch ronic osteomyelitis who have a poor clinical response to antistaphyloc occal therapy.