Cervical osteomyelitis associated with intravenous drug use

Complications of intravenous drug abuse, such as subcutaneous abscess, joint infections, osteomyelitis, overdose, hepatitis, and infective endocarditis, account for an increasing number of admissions in accident and emergency departments throughout the UK. 1 Orthopaedic problems, such as soft tissue and joint infections, are responsible for at least 30% of these acute admissions. The organisms that usually cause chronic osteomyelitis in intravenous drug users are Gram-negative rods such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive cocci such as staphylococci. 2 Early treatment is essential to prevent progressive bone destruction.