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If a germ gets into a bone or joint it can cause an infection. This can happen through the bloodstream, but many infections arise because of injury, a skin ulcer or surgery. The patients treated by the Bone Infection Unit include people with infections of:
These infections can persist, leading to long-term pain, poor mobility and sometimes wound problems. This is much more likely if:
Most bone and joint infections need treatment from a number of different specialists working in a team. Patients usually need the following.