[Pathogen changes in bacterial bone and joint infections (osteomyelitis, spondylitis, arthritis)].

With regard to germ mutation in osteomyelitis, spondylitis, and arthritis it has been established that the frequency of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the gram-positive pathogens (S. albus, Streptococci) has decreased in the last 20 years. To varying degrees, S. aureus and the gram-negative, aerobic organisms are the most important pathogens of bone and joint infections. Overall, there has been an increase in the frequency of infections with gram-negative, aerobic organisms. In the majority of cases the bone and joint inflammations were caused by exogenous factors, their course was chonic, and the typical localization was the lower extremity. There was a positive trend toward shorter periods of hospitalization and a shorter duration of illness.