Early prosthetic joint infections (PJI) are managed with debridement, implant retention and antibiotics (DAIR). Our aim was to evaluate risk factors for failure after stopping antibiotic treatment.

From 1999 to 2013 early PJIs managed with DAIR were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed. The main variables potentially associated with outcome were gathered and the minimum follow-up was 2 years. Primary endpoint was implant removal or the need of reintroducing antibiotic treatment due to failure.

A total of 143 patients met the inclusion criteria. The failure rate after a median (IQR) duration of oral antibiotic treatment of 69 (45–95) days was 11.8%. In 92 cases PJI was due to gram-positive (GP) microorganisms, in 21 due to gram-negatives (GN) and 30 had a polymicrobial infection. In GP infections, combination of rifampin with linezolid, cotrimoxazole or clindamycin was associated with a higher failure rate (27.8%, P=0.026) in comparison to patients receiving a combination of rifampin with levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin or amoxicillin (8.3%) or monotherapy with linezolid or cotrimoxazole (0%) (Figure 1). Among patients with a GN infection, the use of fluoroquinolones was associated with a lower failure rate (7.1% vs 37.5%, P=0.044). Duration of antibiotic treatment was not associated with failure.

The only factor associated with failure was the oral antibiotic selection, but not the duration of treatment. Linezolid, cotrimoxazole and clindamycin but not levofloxacin serum concentrations are reduced by rifampin; a fact that could explain our findings. Further studies monitoring serum concentration could help to improve the efficacy of these antibiotics when combining with rifampin.

Aim

Successful management of native Joint septic arthritis (SA) hinges on the timely initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy coupled with thorough joint debridement. Since 2018 we have implemented a protocol for empirical antibiotic in patients with suspected SA recommending amoxicillin/clavulanate (and cotrimoxazole in cases of beta-lactams allergy) based on local flora. Nevertheless we have recently found that institutional compliance to the protocol is only about 50% and many physicians are still choosing alternative wider spectrum regimens.

The aim of this study is to assess whether current clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients treated for this condition justify an update or whether previous recommendations are still valid.

Aim. Whether pre-operative microbiological sampling contributes to the management of chronic peri-prosthetic infection remains controversial. We assessed agreement between the results of pre-operative and intra-operative samples in patients undergoing single-stage prosthesis exchange to treat chronic peri-prosthetic infection. The tested hypothesis was that agreement between pre-operative and intra-operative samples exceeds 75% in patients undergoing single-stage exchange of a hip or knee prosthesis to treat chronic peri-prosthetic infection. Method. This single-centre retrospective study included 85 single-stage prosthesis exchange procedures in 82 patients with chronic peri-prosthetic infection at the hip or knee. Agreement between pre-operative and intra-operative sample results was evaluated. Changes to the initial antibiotic regimen made based on the intra-operative sample results were recorded. Associations between sample agreement and infection-free survival were assessed. Results. Of 149 pre-operative samples, 109 yielded positive cultures, in 75/85 cases. Of 458 intra-operative samples, 354 yielded positive cultures, in 85/85 cases. Agreement was complete in 54 (63%) cases and partial in 9 (11%) cases; there was no agreement in the remaining 22 (26%) cases. The complete agreement rate was significantly lower than 75% (p=0.01). The initial antibiotic regimen was inadequate in a single case. Agreement between pre-operative and intra-operative samples was not significantly associated with infection-free survival. Conclusions. Pre-operative sampling may contribute to the diagnosis of peri-prosthetic infection but is neither necessary nor sufficient to confirm the diagnosis and identify the causative agent. The spectrum of the initial antibiotic regimen cannot be safely narrowed based on the pre-operative sample results. We suggest the routine prescription of a probabilistic broad-spectrum antibiotic regimen immediately after the prosthesis exchange, even when a pathogen was identified before surgery. No funding from any part was received for the purpose of this study

Aim. The aim of the present work was (i) to survey the situation of healthcare regarding the use of antibiotics in orthopaedics and trauma surgery in Germany, (ii) to determine which empiric antibiotic regimens are preferred in the treatment of periprosthethic joint infections (PJI) and (iii) to evaluate the hypothetical antibiotic adequacy of the applied empirical antibiotic therapy regimens based on a patient collective of a German university hospital. Method. A survey on empirical and prophylactic antibiotic therapy was conducted at German university and occupational health clinics (BG clinics), each in the specialties of orthopedics and trauma surgery. A total of 71 clinics were contacted by email. The questionnaire sent included open-ended questions on systemic antibiotic prophylaxis in primary hip arthroplasty; a distinction was made between hip arthroplasty due to femoral fractures and elective hip arthroplasty. In addition, the empirical antibiotic therapy used in PJIs was surveyed. To determine the success rate of prophylaxis and therapy according to sensitivity to the antibiotics applied, the survey results were compared with previously published data on antimicrobial treatment in n=81 PJI patients treated in our department between 2017 and 2020. Results. In 93.2% (elective) and 88.6% (fracture care) of the hospitals, 1st- and 2nd-generation cephalosporins are administered perioperatively for infection prophylaxis in primary hip arthroplasty. In contrast, empiric antibiotic treatment for PJI showed a clearly inhomogeneous therapeutic picture. Monotherapy with an aminopenicillin/betalactamase inhibitor is most frequently used (38.7%); 1st- and 2nd-generation cephalosporins are second most frequently used as monotherapy (18.2%). In addition, dual combination therapies have become established, mostly aminopenicillin/betalactamase inhibitor or 1st- and 2nd-generation cephalosporins, whose administration is supplemented with another antibiotic. The most common combination in PJI is aminopenicillin/betalactamase inhibitor + vancomycin (11.4%). The most widely used therapy (monotherapy with aminopenicillin/betalactamase inhibitor) would have covered 69.0% of PJI patients. Monotherapy with 1st- and 2nd-generation cephalosporins would have been susceptible to 57.8% of PJI patients. In contrast, a combination of vancomycin + 1st- and 2nd-generation cephalosporins would have been most effective, with an efficacy of 91.5% according to the resistograms, but this was used by only two hospitals. Conclusions. Empirical antibiotic therapy for the treatment of PJI is applied in more than half of the clinics with a single broad-spectrum beta-lactamase inhibitor antibiotic. This discrepancy between the everyday care in the clinics and the administration of clearly more effective combination therapies underlines the need for recommendation guidelines

Aim. Empiric antibiotic therapy for suspected pyogenic spondylodiscitis (SD) should be initiated immediately with severely ill patients and may also be necessary for culture-negative SD. The aim of this study was to infer an appropriate empiric antibiotic regimen by analyzing the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated pathogens from microbiologically proven pyogenic spondylodiscitis. Method. We performed a retrospective review of adult patients with clinically proven SD treated at our level 1 trauma center between 2013 and 2020. Demographic data, radiologic findings, and treatment modalities were evaluated. The appropriateness of empiric antibiotic regimens was assessed based on the antibiograms of the isolated pathogens. Anamneses were used to distinguish between community-acquired (CA) and healthcare-associated (HA) pathogens, which included cases that had a hospital stay or invasive intervention in the past 6 months. Results. A total of 155 patients (male: N=88; female: N=67; mean age 66.1 ± 12.4 years) with SD were identified. In n= 74 (47.7%) cases, the infections were associated with the healthcare system (HA). N=34 (21.9%) patients suffered from sepsis. The lumbar spine was involved in 47.1% of the cases, the thoracic spine in 37.3%, and the cervical spine in 7.8%. In 7.8% of the cases, SD occurred in multiple spinal segments. N=96 (62.0%) patients were treated surgically. The mean hospital stay was 36.4 ± 36.3 days. Antibiograms of n=45 patients (HA: N=22; CA: N=23) could be retrospectively evaluated: The most frequently identified pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (46.7%), Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (17.8%), Enterobacteriaceae (15.6%) and Streptococcus species (15.6%). Overall, 82.2% (HA: 68.2%; CA: 95.5%) of the isolated pathogens were sensitive to piperacillin/tazobactam, 77.8% (HA: 81.8%; CA: 72.2%) to vancomycin, 64.4% (HA: 68.2%; CA: 59.1%) to clindamycin, and 55.6% (HA: 36.4%; CA: 72.7%) to ceftriaxone. To a combination of vancomycin plus meropenem 97.8% of pathogens were sensitive (HA: 95.5%; CA: 100.0%), to vancomycin plus ciprofloxacin 91.1% (HA: 86.4%; CA: 95.7%), and to vancomycin plus cefotaxime 93.3% (HA: 90.9%; CA: 95.7%). In 14 cases, empiric antibiosis was adjusted based on the results of the antibiogram. Conclusions. Antibiotic resistance of CA SD pathogens differed significantly from HA SD. The identification of the pathogen and the analysis of its susceptibility guides the antibiotic therapy. Vancomycin in combination with a carbapenem, broad-spectrum cephalosporin, or fluoroquinolone may be appropriate for empiric treatment of HA SD

Introduction. Since the expanded war in Ukraine in 2022, explosives, mines, debris, blast waves, and other factors have predominantly caused injuries during artillery or rocket attacks. These injuries, such as those from shelling shrapnel, involve high-energy penetrating agents, resulting in extensive necrosis and notable characteristics like soft tissue defects and multiple fragmentary fractures with bone tissue defects and a high rate of infection complications caused by multi resistant gram-negative (MRGN) pathogens. Material and Methods. We conducted a prospective study at our center between March 2022 and December 2023. Out of the 56 patients from Ukraine, 21 met the inclusion criteria who had severe war injuries were included in the study. Each of these patients presented with multiple injuries to both bones and soft tissues, having initially undergone treatment in Ukraine involving multiple surgeries. The diagnosis of infection was established based on the EBJIS criteria. Prior to our treatment patients had undergone multiple revision surgeries, including debridement, biopsies, implant and fixator replacement. Additionally, soft tissue management required previously VAC therapy and flap reconstruction for successful treatment. Results. All 21 infections manifested as bone infections (11; 52%), followed by implant-associated infections (5; 24%), soft tissue infections (4; 19%), and septic arthritis (1; 5%). In all patients, the infection was polymicrobial, caused by 3- and 4-MRGN pathogens, as Klebsiella pneumonia 4MRGN, Proteus mirabilis 4MRGN, Enterobacter cloacae 4MRGN etc. Upon admission, all patients carried a diagnosis and exhibited signs indicative of chronic infection. 19 (90.5%) patients required complex antibiotic regimens combined with multiple wound revisions and debridements, changes of fixators and combination of systemic and local antibiotic therapy. In 6 patients (28%) high dosages of local antibiotics such as gentamycin, vancomycin and meropenem were incorporated into a carrier of bio-absorbable calcium sulfate, calcium sulfate/hydroxyapatite which were introduced into the hip joint, femoral canal or bone defect for dead space management during the surgery. When local antibiotics were administered at intervals, the microbiology results at implantation showed negative results. 2 (9%) patients had new infections (different site, different pathogens), 1 (4.8%) is still under the treatment. In 17 (81%) patients infection complications were treated successfully with no recurrence of infection. Conclusion. War injuries result in complex bone and soft-tissue infections caused by 3-, 4-MRGN pathogens. Addressing this challenge necessitates multidisciplinary approach with multiple, thorough surgical debridements, effective local, and systemic antimicrobial therapy. As for the outlook we can see potential in local antibiotic carriers

Aim. There is a lack of data supporting the use of doxycycline as a single agent after removing infected orthopaedic metalwork. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of doxycycline compared with other single antibiotic regimens used at our specialist orthopaedic hospital. Methods. A retrospective observational study including all adult patients diagnosed with an orthopaedic metalwork infection due to staphylococci. All patients were managed with the removal of metalwork, and multiple intraoperative samples were sent for culture, followed by the administration of at least four weeks of oral antibiotics. Antibiotic selection was on the recommendation of an infection consultant. Infection outcome was assessed as the proportion of patients meeting the OVIVA Trial definition of definite failure at follow-up. The probability of definite failure for doxycycline and the alternatives group was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier survival method. All adverse drug reactions (ADR) during treatment were analysed. Results. Seventy-nine orthopaedic metalwork infections were identified between July 2017 and July 2021. Forty-four were prosthetic joints, and 35 were fracture-related metalwork. In 54 cases, the infecting organism was Staphylococcus aureus, and 25 were due to coagulase-negative staphylococci. Forty-four were treated with doxycycline 100mg 12 hourly, and 35 were treated with alternatives (flucloxacillin 1g 6-hourly n=21 and clindamycin 450mg 6-hourly n=14). Overall, 70 patients (88.6%) were infection-free after a median follow-up of 23 months (IQR, 19 – 44). 38 (82.3%) were infection-free in the doxycycline group compared with 32 (91.4%) patients treated with alternatives. Of the failures in the alternatives group, all 3 received flucloxacillin. Survival analysis showed no significant difference in time to treatment failure between doxycycline and alternative antibiotics. Eighteen patients experienced an ADR: 2 nausea, one rash and one vaginal candidiasis due to doxycycline. Four diarrhoea, one reflux, two rashes and one headache due to clindamycin; 1 nausea and five diarrhoea due to flucloxacillin. Four patients required discontinuation therapy, two due to clindamycin and two due to flucloxacillin. Conclusions. In our cohort of patients, doxycycline monotherapy was an effective and well-tolerated oral option for treating staphylococcal infection following debridement and removal of orthopaedic metalwork

Aim. Antibiotic prophylaxis is central in preventing postoperative spine infections, yet knowledge of clinical spine tissue antibiotic concentrations remains limited. Pooled postoperative spine infection rates are constant (approximately 3%), resulting in severe patient morbidity, mortality, and prolonged hospitalization. Current antibiotic dosing regimens often involve fixed doses based on empirical knowledge, surrogate measures (plasma samples), non-clinical evidence (experimental models), and inferior methodology (tissue specimens). Therefore, personalized antibiotic dosing may be the future of antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent postoperative infections, especially implant infections. The aim was to continuously evaluate intra- and postoperative cefuroxime target spine tissue concentrations in long-lasting spine surgery after personalized dosing by repeated weight-dosed intravenous administrations. Method. Twenty patients (15 female, 5 male) scheduled for long-lasting spine deformity surgery with hypotensive anaesthesia were included; median age (range): 17.5 years (12-74), mean BMI (range): 22.2 (16.2-37.7), and mean surgery time (range): 4h 49min (3h 57min-6h 9min). Weight-dosed cefuroxime (20 mg/kg) was administered intravenously to all patients on average 25 min before incision and repeated after 4 hours. Microdialysis catheters were placed for sampling of cefuroxime concentrations in vertebral bone (only intraoperative sampling), paravertebral muscle, and subcutaneous tissue as soon as possible after surgery start. Upon wound closure, two additional catheters were placed in the profound and superficial part of the wound. Microdialysis and plasma samples were obtained continuously intra- and postoperative for up to 12 hours. The primary endpoint was (based on cefuroxime time-dependent efficacy) the time with cefuroxime concentrations above the clinical breakpoint minimal inhibitory concentration for Staphylococcus aureus of 4 µg/mL in percentage (%fT>MIC4) of. (a). patients’ individual surgery time,. (b). first dosing interval (0-4 hours),. (c). second dosing interval (4-12 hours). Results. Mean cefuroxime %fT>MIC4 (range) of:. (a). patients’ individual surgery time was 100% (100-100%) in all investigated tissues. (b). the first dosing interval was 93% (93-93%) in vertebral bone, paravertebral muscle, subcutaneous tissue, and 99% (99-100%) in plasma. (c). the second dosing interval was 87% (52-100%) in paravertebral muscle, 89% (52-100%) in subcutaneous tissue, 91% (71-100%) in the profound wound, 94% (72-100%) in the superficial wound, and 71% (42-100%) in plasma. Conclusions. Personalized cefuroxime dosing by repeated weight-dosed (20 mg/kg) intravenous administrations provided homogenous and therapeutic spine tissue exposure across all investigated tissues and plasma in long-lasting spine surgery with hypotensive anaesthesia (up to 11 hours). Thus, personalized cefuroxime dosing may decrease the risk of postoperative spine infection, especially in cases with implant insertion

Aim. Propionibacterium acnes (PA) is an important cause of shoulder prosthetic joint infections (SPJIs) for which the optimal treatment has not yet been determined. Rifampicin and Levofloxacin both showed not benefit in recent experimental models of PA-SPJIs. We describe herein the experience of five different medical French centers in order to assess factors associated with patient's outcome with special emphasize on antibiotic regimens. Method. A multicentric retrospective study was performed, on consecutive patients with PA – related SPJIs diagnosed on the basis of at least 2 or more positive cultures of either per-operative or joint aspiration and clinical history compatible with a PJI according to the current guidelines. All patients had surgical management, followed by systemic antibiotic therapy. Remission was defined as an asymptomatic patient with functioning prosthesis at the last contact. Results. Fifty-nine patients of mean age 66.2 ± 10.5 years were included. Most patients were at least ASA 2 (66%), 8 (14%) diabetes mellitus, 3 (5%) had neoplasia. Fourteen patients (24%) had acute, 34 (58%) subacute, and 11 late infections (19%). The mean delay from symptoms of infection to surgery was 89 ± 141 days (1–660). Surgical management consisted in implant exchange in 40 (68%) patients. Antibiotic treatment included mainly clindamycin (49%), levofloxacin (44%) and rifampin (17%), with a mean duration of 52.3 ± 31.9 days. The mean follow-up duration was 540 days ± 488 (range 12 ™ 1925). Forty-five patients were in remission (76%) in this study, 8 patients had a relapsing infection (14%), 1 a recurrence (2%) and 5 a superinfection ™ i.e, due to a different pathogen − (8%). In monovariate analysis, rifampicin/levofloxacin treatment was significantly associated with failure (p=0.038). In multivariate analysis, levofloxacin use and implants retention were significantly related to failure (p=0.02 and p=0.003, respectively). Conclusions. Our results suggest that implant retention and levofloxacin use are two independents factors of failure in patients treated for PA – related SPJIs

Aim. Open fractures still have a high risk for fracture-related Infection (FRI). The optimal duration of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) for open fractures remains controversial due to heterogeneous guidelines and highly variable prophylactic regimens in clinical practice. In order to provide further evidence with which to support the selection of antibiotic duration for open fracture care, we performed a preclinical evaluation in a contaminated rabbit fracture model. Method. A complete humeral osteotomy in 18 rabbits was fixed with a 7-hole-LCP and inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus (2×106 colony forming units, CFU per inoculum). This inoculum was previously shown to result in a 100% infection rate in the absence of any antibiotic prophylaxis. Cefuroxime was administered intravenously in a weight adjusted dosage equivalent to human medicine (18.75 mg/kg) as a single shot only, for 24 hours (every 8 hours) and for 72 hours (every 8 hours) in separate groups of rabbits (n=6 per group). Infection rate per group was assessed after two weeks by quantitative bacteriological evaluation of soft tissue, bone and implants. Blood samples were taken from rabbits preoperatively and on days 3, 7 and 14 after surgery to measure white blood cell count (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Results. Duration of PAP had a significant impact on the success of antibiotic prophylaxis. The single shot regimen completely failed to prevent infection. All samples (soft tissue, implant and bone) from this group displayed high numbers of bacteria. Additionally, abscesses were present in two of six rabbits. The 24-hour regimen showed a reduced infection rate (1 out of 6 rabbits infected), but only the 72-hour course was able to prevent FRI in all animals in our model. After an initial postoperative peak on day three, CRP levels then decreased to baseline (approx. 30 µg/ml) in the 24h-group and 72h-group, but remained significantly higher in the single shot group at day 7 and 14 (p<0.05). Conclusions. When contamination with high bacterial loads is likely (e.g. in an open fracture situation), a 72-hour course of intravenous cefuroxime appears to be superior in preventing FRI compared to a single shot or 24-hour antibiotic regimen. Acknowledgements. This work was funded by AOTrauma

Current perception is that standard Cefuroxime only [C4] based prophylaxis regimen demonstrated higher association with C Difficile (C. Diff) diarrhoea. This has prompted change in antibiotics prophylaxis combination regimens like Flucloxacillin-Gentamycin (F-G], Teicoplanin- Gentamycin [T-G] and single dose Cefuroxime-Gentamycin [C-G]. The current study was done to investigate the association of C. Diff diarrhoea and surgical site infection (SSI) rate with Cefuroxime only regimen prophylaxis in fracture neck of femur surgery. A retrospective analysis for 2009–2012 was performed for 1502 neck of femur fracture patients undergoing surgery. The factors studied were ASA grade, SSI, C. Diff diarrhoea rates in patients with Cefuroxime (induction plus two doses) based prophylactic regimen. The data was obtained from coding department and further streamlined based on microbiology. 1242 patients were included in the study who received Cefuroxime only regimen. The Male : Female distribution was 353 : 889. The average ASA grade was 3. The analysis demonstrated that C. Diff diarrhoea rate in the study population was 1.29%. The SSI rate stood at 3.06% with superficial infection at 2.5 % and deep at 0.56 %. Our single centre based study demonstrated low C. Difficile related diarrhoea rates with Cefuroxime only regimen. The SSI rates were also low as compared to the current literature thus concluding that Cefuroxime only antibiotic regimen can safely be administered in neck of femur surgery

In spite of its incidence decreasing to 1% nowadays, prosthesis-related infections remain a research, diagnostic, therapeutic and cost-related problem. Early diagnosis, selection of an appropriate surgical strategy, accurate identification of the responsible microorganisms and construction of an appropriate antibiotic regimen are essential elements of any management strategy. Our study aim was firstly to compare the diagnostic accuracy of conventional periprosthetic tissue culture and culture of fluid derived from vortexing and bath sonication of the explanted hardware and secondly to investigate the role of possible metabolic factors affecting the sensitivity of the sonication method. We investigated 70 patients undergoing revision hip or knee arthroplasty because of loosening of the prostheses, at our institution, between October 2011 and November 2013. Patients’ medical history and demographic characteristics were recorded. We compared the culture of samples obtained by sonication of explanted hip and knee prostheses with conventional culture of periprosthetic tissue for the microbiological diagnosis of prosthetic-joint infection. Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Guidelines were used for the definition of prosthetic-joint infection. Thirty-two patients had septic loosening and 38 aseptic loosening (48 hip prostheses and 22 knee prostheses). The sensitivity of sonication fluid culture was 81.25% and the sensitivity of conventional tissue cultures was 56.25% (p-value = 0.043). The sensitivity of the sonication method was statistically higher in obese, diabetic patients, with age above 60, in uncemented arthroplasties and in arthroplasties because of primary osteoarthritis (p-values < 0.05). The sonication method represents a reliable test for the diagnosis of prosthetic – joint infections with a greater sensitivity than the conventional periprosthetic tissue cultures, especially in obese, diabetic patients, with age above 60, in uncemented arthroplasties and in arthroplasties because of primary osteoarthritis

In September 2011 our departmental protocol for peri-operative prophylactic antibiotic administration was altered from cefuroxime to gentamicin/flucloxacillin, in response to reported links between cephalosporin use and Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection. As both gentamicin and flucloxacillin are known to be nephrotoxic in some patients, we investigated whether the new regimen increases the risk of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in patients undergoing elective and trauma hip and knee surgery, classified by severity (AKI Network criteria). The incidence of C. diff was noted. 10 out of 202 (5%) patients receiving cefuroxime (group A) developed AKI, compared with 23 of 210 (11%) patients receiving gentamicin and flucloxacillin (group B) (p=0.012). The severity of the renal injury was higher in the group B patients with 16 sustaining stage II/III AKI, whereas in Group A only one patient sustained a stage II injury and none stage III. The increased AKI rate in group B was observed equally in hip fracture patients and elective hip/knee replacement patients. However, 3 of 80 (4%) patients with hip fractures who received doses of cefuroxime developed C. diff, with none in the other groups (p=0.04). The choice of prophylactic antibiotics depends on a careful assessment of benefits and risks. Our data suggests that whereas hip fracture patients may have benefitted from the protocol change with reduced C. diff incidence, elective hip and knee replacement patients sustained additional harm. Different antibiotic regimens may be appropriate for these two groups

There is currently no consensus on the use of suppressive antibiotic therapy (SAT) in prosthetic joint infections (PJI) (1). We describe herein the experience of a French Reference Centre for Complex Osteo-Articular Infections on use of oral cyclines (doxycline and minocycline) for SAT. A retrospective analysis was performed on consecutive patients with PJI who received oral cyclines (doxycycline or minocycline) for SAT between January 2006 and June 2014. All patients had surgical management, followed by systemic antibiotic treatment and SAT instauration thereafter. Remission was defined as an asymptomatic patient with a functioning prosthesis. Seventy-nine patients with a mean age of 63.8 ± 16.8 years were included. Sixteen patients (20%) had neoplasia, 9 (11%) diabetes mellitus, 10 (13%) rheumatoid arthritis, and 6 patients (8%) were receiving corticosteroids or chemotherapy. There were 37 knee (47%), 36 hip (46%), 4 elbow (5%), and 2 shoulder (3%) infections, with a mean delay from implantation of 7.37 ± 6.94 months (range 1–27). Surgical management consisted in debridement and implant retention for 60 patients (76%), or in implant exchange for 19 patients (24%). Main pathogens were coagulase-negative staphylococci (37%) and Staphylococcus aureus (41%); 23 patients had polymicrobial infection (29%). The most frequent initial antibiotic regimens debuted before SAT were rifampicin combinations (70%). Mean duration of curative antibiotic therapy was 103 ± 75 days. Indications of SAT were (i) patients unsuitable for or refusing further surgery (n=23), suboptimal (ii) surgery (n=26) or (iii) curative antibiotic therapy (n=11), (iv) complex orthopaedic surgery (n=11), and (v) immunosuppressive status (n=8). Seventy-three patients received doxycycline and 6 patients received minocycline as SAT (n=48). Mean SAT duration was 625± 536 days (range 30–2900), with a mean follow-up of 765 ± 572 days. Adverse events were reported in 13 patients (16%), leading to SAT discontinuation in 5 (6%). During follow-up, 59 patients were considered in remission (75%), and 20 failed including 13 relapses (16%) and 7 reinfections (9%). Among failure patients, 10 pathogens resistant to doxy/minocycline were identified, including 5 with acquisition of cycline resistance. In our study, SAT with cyclines is associated to a 75% remission rate, with an acceptable tolerability. Further studies are warranted to determine ideal regimens and optimal duration of SAT. We would like to thank Dron Hospital and Lille University Hospital medical teams. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest

We aim to describe the microbiological spectrum and relevant antibiotic susceptibility profile of PJI in our institution over a five-year period(2009–2013) and determine its evolution considering the preceding six years(2003–2008) thus evaluating the adequacy of our empirical antibiotic regimen. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 96 consecutive PJI (51 hips:45 knees) treated from May 2009-December 2013. Demographics, microbial species and antibiotic susceptibility were recorded. These results were then compared to those previously obtained by studying the 2003–2008 time period. Infections were polymicrobial in 27 cases(28.1%) and only two cases(2.1%) were culture-negative accounting for a total of 132 different culture results. S.aureus grew in 37 samples(28.0%) being the most frequently isolated microorganism. Coagulase-negative staphylococci grew in 32 samples(24.2%) and gram negative bacteria in 35 samples(26.5%). Other Gram positive species (most commonly enterococci and streptococci) were isolated in 26 samples(19.7%). Comparing 2009–2013 to 2003–2008, there was a significant increase of polymicrobial infections – 28% vs. 8%(OR=4.6, 95%CI [1.9–11.3]) and a significant decrease of culture-negative cases – 2% vs. 18%(OR=0.1, 95%CI [0.02–0.4]). It is also noteworthy that the prevalence of gram negative isolates was significantly increased – 26.5% vs. 13.3%(OR=1.3, 95%CI [1.1–1.6]). Antibiotic susceptibilities study showed a 41.4% methicillin resistance among S.aureus and even higher among coagulase-negative staphylococci isolates(57.7%). This is a not quite significant decrease compared to the earlier period(p=0.10). We also found a high rate antibiotic resistance among gram negative: ampiciline(81.8%), amoxicilin/clavulanate(59.1%), ciprofloxacin(19.2%), aminoglycosides(17%), third generation cephalosporins(14.6%) and even carbapenems(13.6%). These results show that our sampling protocol has improved considerably as the proportion of culture-negative cases has dramatically decreased. On the other hand this may also help explain the increase in polymicrobial infections. We have no clear explanation for the increase in gram negative bacteria. Despite the downward trend we still face a very significant proportion of methicillin-resistant staphylococci infections. The antibiotic resistance profile among gram negative bacteria is also worrying. As such we believe a regimen consisting of vancomycin and gram-negative coverage such as aminoglycosides or a third generation cephalosporin is still warranted in our institution

Purpose. Antibiotic prophylaxis plays an important role in minimizing surgical site infections as well as other nosocomial peri-operative infections in orthopaedic trauma patients. Pre-operative prophylaxis has been shown to be efficacious, but the role and duration of post-operative prophylaxis remains controversial. The goal of this study was to assess whether patients receive their antibiotic prophylaxis as prescribed. What dose and duration of antibiotics are typically ordered, what patients actually receive, and factors causing the ordered antibiotic regime to be altered were also investigated. This study did not investigate infection rates or the efficacy of various antibiotic prophylactic regimes. Method. This study presents data collected through a retrospective chart review of 205 patients treated surgically for a closed fracture at one institution. A national survey was also distributed to all surgeon members of the Canadian Orthopaedic Trauma Society (COTS) concerning antibiotic prophylaxis in the setting of surgical treatment for closed fractures. Results. Ninety three percent (179/193) of patients received an appropriate pre-operative dose, while less than 32% (58/181) of patients received their post-operative antibiotics as ordered. The most common stated reason for patients not receiving their post-operative antibiotics as ordered was patients being discharged before completing three post-op doses. There was a 70% (39/56) response rate to the survey sent to COTS surgeons. A single dose of a first-generation cephalosporin pre-operatively followed by three doses post-operatively is the most common practice amongst orthopaedic trauma surgeons across Canada, but several surgeons use only pre-operative prophylaxis. Conclusion. Adherence to multi-dose post-operative antibiotic regimens is poor. Meta-analyses have failed to demonstrate the superiority of multi-dose regimens over single-dose prophylaxis. Single-dose pre-operative antibiotic prophylaxis may be a reasonable choice for most orthopedic trauma patients with closed fractures

Bone and joint infections are not only common but their management can be technically complex. They carry significant healthcare costs and are a daunting experience for patients [1]. Frequently, multiple operations are required in order to treat the infection. Each surgical intervention usually results in greater bone loss, worsening skin and soft tissue scarring and increasingly diverse and resistant micro- organisms [2]. Specialist bone infection units involving highly integrated orthopaedic and plastic surgery, as well as infection physicians, may improve patient outcomes [3–4]. However, it is difficult to determine the hierarchy of factors contributing to outcome of treatment. This problem is confounded by a lack of structured, prospective data collection in many units around the world. In 2014, we designed a modular database which allows collection of patients’ details, components of the disease, the treatment, microbiology, histology, clinical outcome and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS). The registry was implemented in November 2014 and has already demonstrated its function as a Hospital-wide service evaluation tool. Over 200 patients have been referred to the unit and their baseline demographic information registered. Their progress through the bone infection unit patient pathway is prospectively monitored with use of the registry and data collection ongoing. We aim to present the preliminary clinical outcomes of these 200 patients including surgical procedures performed, key microbiology results, antibiotic treatment regimens and patient reported outcomes. Our goal is to demonstrate that a bone infection registry is an integral part of infection management clinical practice. It can be used for designing service provision, assist in allocating healthcare resources and expand the evidence base for specialist bone infection units in managing complex orthopaedic infections

We report our experience using a biodegradable calcium sulphate antibiotic carrier containing tobramycin in the surgical management of patients with chronic osteomyelitis. The patients were reviewed to determine the rate of recurrent infection, the filling of bony defects, and any problems with wound healing. A total of 193 patients (195 cases) with a mean age of 46.1 years (16.1 to 82.0) underwent surgery. According to the Cierny–Mader classification of osteomyelitis there were 12 type I, 1 type II, 144 type III and 38 type IV cases. The mean follow-up was 3.7 years (1.3 to 7.1) with recurrent infection occurring in 18 cases (9.2%) at a mean of 10.3 months post-operatively (1 to 25.0). After further treatment the infection resolved in 191 cases (97.9%). Prolonged wound ooze (longer than two weeks post-operatively) occurred in 30 cases (15.4%) in which there were no recurrent infection. Radiographic assessment at final follow-up showed no filling of the defect with bone in 67 (36.6%), partial filling in 108 (59.0%) and complete filling in eight (4.4%). A fracture occurred in nine (4.6%) of the treated osteomyelitic segments at a mean of 1.9 years (0.4 to 4.9) after operation.

We conclude that Osteoset T is helpful in the management of patients with chronic osteomyelitis, but the filling of the defect in bone is variable. Prolonged wound ooze is usually self-limiting and not associated with recurrent infection.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014; 96-B:829–36