You may be more at risk of getting osteomyelitis if you fall into one of the following groups: You have broken a bone or have had surgery involving a bone; You have had a joint replacement (e. g a hip or knee replacement); You have had an infection somewhere else in your body-the infection then spreads to your bone through your bloodstream; this happens most often in children and the elderly; You have diabetes-you will be at an increased risk of getting an infection in your feet, which may then spread to your bone; You have a weakened immune system (e. g if you are having chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer or if you have HIV).
Attribution: BUPA