Question:medium
A boy presents with multiple non-suppurative osteomyelitis along with sickle cell anaemia. What is the most likely causative organism?
A boy presents with multiple non-suppurative osteomyelitis along with sickle cell anaemia. What is the most likely causative organism?
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Sickle cell plus osteomyelitis equals which organism?
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- Salmonella
- S. aureus
- H. influenzae
- Enterobacter species
Show Solution
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: The key modifier in this stem is sickle cell anaemia, which changes the usual microbiology of osteomyelitis.
Step 2: Normally S. aureus dominates osteomyelitis at all ages, but sickle cell patients have functional asplenia and bone infarcts that predispose them to Salmonella seeding.
Step 3: This well-known board association means that multiple bony infections in a child with sickle cell disease are most likely due to Salmonella species.
Step 4: The other organisms relate to neonatal, pediatric, or adult osteomyelitis without the sickle cell link, so they are not the best answer. Hence Salmonella is chosen.
\[\boxed{\text{Salmonella}}\]
Step 2: Normally S. aureus dominates osteomyelitis at all ages, but sickle cell patients have functional asplenia and bone infarcts that predispose them to Salmonella seeding.
Step 3: This well-known board association means that multiple bony infections in a child with sickle cell disease are most likely due to Salmonella species.
Step 4: The other organisms relate to neonatal, pediatric, or adult osteomyelitis without the sickle cell link, so they are not the best answer. Hence Salmonella is chosen.
\[\boxed{\text{Salmonella}}\]
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