Haemophilus aphrophilus osteomyelitis after dental prophylaxis - A case report

A 36-year-old patient who was otherwise healthy had acute osteomyelitis of the humeral shaft develop after routine prophylactic dental cleaning and ul trasonic scaling, Haemophilus aphrophilus grew on cultures of material obta ined during biopsy of the humerus, and pathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis, Haemophilus aphrophilus, a fastidious gr am negative bacillus, is part of the normal oral flora and is a rare pathog en. Osteomyelitis caused by Haemophilus aphrophilus has not been reported t o occur after routine dental prophylaxis, The patient was treated successfu lly with surgical debridement and appropriate antibiotics.