Aw. Howard et al., Reduction in osteomyelitis and septic arthritis related to Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination, J PED ORTH, 19(6), 1999, pp. 705-709
This retrospective cohort study compares organisms responsible for septic a
rthritis and osteomyelitis before and after Haemophilus influenzae type b v
accination. Before vaccination, Haemophilus influenzae type b was responsib
le for 5% of culture positive osteomyelitis and 41% of culture positive sep
tic arthritis. Since the administration of the conjugated vaccine PRP-T beg
an in 1992, no case of osteomyelitis or septic arthritis has been caused by
Haemophilus influenzae type b (p < 0.005, t test). Vaccination has succeed
ed in eliminating Haemophilus influenzae type b as an infective agent in he
matogenous septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. Current empirical antibiotic
therapy for hematogenous septic arthritis and osteomyelitis need only cove
r gram-positive agents in vaccinated infants and children of all age groups
.