Explanation
Although S. aureus is still the most common cause of osteomyelitis in patients with sickle cell disease, Salmonella species have a uniquely high association with this patient population compared to the general public. Intravascular sickling causes bowel ischemia, allowing enteric Salmonella to translocate into the bloodstream and seed infarcted areas of bone. Reference: Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics, 14th Edition.