Hypokalemia during antibiotic treatment for bone and joint infections.

Purpose: During treatment of bone and joint infections (BJIs) with multiple antibiotic therapy, hypokalemia has been reported as a rare side effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate incidence and risk factors for hypokalemia in a cohort of patients treated with multidrug therapy for BJIs, in a single center.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 331 clinical files of 150 consecutive patients (65% males; median age 59 years, 95% CI 55-62) admitted repeatedly to our Osteomyelitis Department for treatment of chronic BJIs.