Anaerobic osteomyelitis in sickle cell disease: association and pathophysiology.

A 10-year-old boy with sickle cell disease developed osteomyelitis of the humerus associated with blood cultures positive for Bacteroides fragilis. Clinical and radiological resolution followed a 10-day course of intravenous clindamycin. Attention is drawn to the definite but poorly recognized association between sickle cell disease and anaerobic osteomyelitis, and the probable pathophysiology is described.