Discharge Instructions for Osteomyelitis

You have a condition called osteomyelitis. This is a bone infection caused by bacteria or fungi. It may have spread through the blood from one area of your body to the bone. Osteomyelitis is called acute when the infection is new. It's called chronic when you've had it for a longer time.

Home care

• Take your medicine exactly as directed. If you were given antibiotics or antifungal medicine, make sure you finish the prescription—even if you feel better. If you don’t finish the medicine, the infection may return and may make future infections harder to treat.

• Be careful not to injure the area where you have the infection.

• Carefully follow all instructions for taking care of any wounds.

• Use a splint, sling, or brace as directed by your healthcare provider.

Follow-up care

Make a follow-up appointment, or as directed.

When to get medical care

Call your healthcare provider if you have any of the following:

• Increasing pain, redness, swelling, or drainage in the infected area

• Fever of 100.4° F ( 38°C) or higher, or as advised by your provider

• Chills

• Increasing fatigue or feeling tired