Reduction in osteomyelitis and septic arthritis related to Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination

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 .