Which two organisms are the most common causes of osteomyelitis in patients with sickle cell disease?

In patients with sickle cell disease, the most common causes of osteomyelitis are indeed Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella species.

Sickle cell disease is characterized by the presence of abnormal hemoglobin, which leads to a variety of complications, including increased susceptibility to infections. One significant risk factor in these patients is the increased incidence of bacterial infections due to the functional asplenia that often results from sickle cell disease.

Staphylococcus aureus, a common pathogen in bone and joint infections, is particularly prevalent due to its ability to colonize and infect various tissues. In sickle cell patients, gram-positive cocci like Staphylococcus aureus are often responsible for osteomyelitis.

Salmonella species are also common pathogens associated with osteomyelitis in this population due to their unique propensity to infect individuals with sickle cell disease. These organisms can cause bone infections particularly because the vaso-occlusive crises seen in sickle cell disease can lead to ischemic changes in the bone that predispose to bacterial invasion.

The combination of these two organisms – Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella species – aligns with the clinical understanding that patients with sickle cell disease face a higher risk of specific types of bacterial infections