Outcome of orthopedic implant infections due to different staphylococci
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / i j i d
Outcome of orthopedic implant infections due to different staphylococci§
Dorota Teterycz Tristan Ferry Daniel Lew , Richard Stern Mathieu Assal Pierre Hoffmeyer Louis Bernard Ilker Uc¸kay
a Orthopedic Surgery Service, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 24, Rue Micheli-du-Crest, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerlandb Service of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerlandc Service of Infectious Diseases, Raymond Poincare´ University Hospital, Garches, Franced Assistance Publique-Hoˆpitaux de Paris, Garches, France
Background: Comparisons of different staphylococci in orthopedic implant infections have rarely been
reported. In this study we assessed total joint arthroplasty infections and other orthopedic implant
infections due to methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA), and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS).
Methods: This was a retrospective study performed at the Geneva University Hospitals for the periodJanuary 1996 to June 2008.
Results: There were 44 infections due to MRSA, 58 due to MSSA, and 61 due to CoNS. Overall cure was
achieved in 57% (25/44) of MRSA infections, 72% (42/58) of MSSA infections, and 82% (50/61) of CoNS
infections, after a minimum follow-up of 1 year. In the subgroup of arthroplasty infections only, cure was
achieved in 39% (7/18) of MRSA, 60% (15/25) of MSSA, and 77% (30/39) of CoNS episodes. In multivariate
analysis, arthroplasty (odds ratio (OR) 0.2, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.1–0.6) and MRSA infections
(OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.9) were inversely associated with overall cure for all implants. CoNS infection (OR3.0, 95% CI 1.2–8.0) and the insertion of a new implant (OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.6–13.1) were associated withhigher cure results. Methicillin resistance, immunosuppression, sex, age, duration of antibiotic therapy,one-stage revision, rifampin use, and total number of surgical interventions did not influence cure. MRSA-infected patients had more post-infection sequelae than patients with MSSA or CoNS (Chi-squaretest 13/44 vs. 93/119, OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3–8.9, p = 0.004). Conclusions: In orthopedic implant infections, S. aureus is more virulent than CoNS. MRSA has the worstoutcome and CoNS the best.
ß 2010 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
experience suggests that methicillin-resistant infections mighthave more recurrences and more sequelae than methicillin-
Staphylococci comprise up to two-thirds of all pathogens in
orthopedic implant these infections are difficult to
The objective of this study was to assess the clinical features
treat because of the ability of the organisms to form small-colony
and outcome in patients with orthopedic implant infections (total
variantsand to grow into Additionally, foreign material
joint arthroplasties and fracture fixation devices) due to the three
itself inhibits neutrophil antibacterial activity.
main groups of staphylococci: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
Methicillin-resistant staphylococcal species may adversely
aureus (MRSA), methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA),
influence treatment outcome, as has previously been shown for
and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). In a second step, we
assessed risk factors for recurrent disease for implant infections
Comparative studies regarding the epidemiology and outcomes
overall, and stratified by total joint arthroplasties and fracture
of localized orthopedic implant-related infections stratified by
staphylococci or type of orthopedic implant are rare. Clinical
Presented in part as a poster at the Annual Meeting of the Swiss Society for
Infectious Diseases, June 2009, Geneva and the Annual Congress of the European
The Geneva University Hospitals form a 2200-bed tertiary
Society for Surgical Research, June 2010, Geneva.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +41 22 372 3311; fax: +41 22 372 3987.
hospital with a high MRSA endemicity (30% of all clinical S. aureus
sequence type 228 is the predominant MRSA strain.
1201-9712/$36.00 – see front matter ß 2010 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:
D. Teterycz et al. / International Journal of Infectious Diseases 14 (2010) e913–e918
The Orthopedic Surgical Service has 119 acute care beds and a
follow-up by analysis of patient medical records during the last
dedicated infectious diseases specialist; 5374 surgical procedures
visit to the Geneva University Hospitals, independent of orthopedic
were performed here in 2007. This service has run a cohort for total
reasons. This passive follow-up had no upper time limit, unless
there was general censoring on 30 September 2009, the date ofclosure for data sampling. Recurrence of infection meant new
clinical signs of infection with the same microorganism at least 2weeks after the end of treatment for the first episode. A
Databases from the Laboratory of Bacteriology, the Geneva
pseudarthrosis without proof of the formerly infecting Staphylo-
Arthroplasty Registry,the Septic Orthopedic Cohort, and the
coccus spp according to study definitions was interpreted as
hospital’s administrative coding were retrospectively searched for
sequelae, but not as recurrent infection. The duration and
staphylococcal infections related to orthopedic implants for the
modalities of antibiotic treatment concomitant to surgery were
period January 1996 to June 2008. Sixty variables for each episode
undertaken according to expert opinion.
were assessed with information pertaining to demographiccharacteristics, microbiology, treatment modalities, and outcomes.
A surgeon and a physician independently recorded each variableon a spreadsheet for analysis. In the case of discordance, a
Comparisons of the groups of staphylococcal infections were
consensus was obtained by involving a third co-author. Patients
performed using the Pearson Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, or
were followed-up to 30 September 2009. A minimum follow-up
the Wilcoxon rank sum test, as appropriate. Logistic regression
time of 1 year after the end of treatment was required for study
analyses determined associations with cure. Independent variables
with a p-value of 0.2 in univariate analysis were added stepwisein the multivariate analysis. The following variables were
introduced into the final model independently of their associationin univariate analysis: sex, age, duration of antibiotic treatment,
The microbiological procedures were unchanged during the
number of surgical interventions, and methicillin resistance. All
study period and based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards
variables were checked for confounding, collinearity, and interac-
Institute (CLSI) guidelines.In order to enhance specificity, only
tion; the latter by Mantel–Haenszel estimates. p-Values of 0.05
cultures that were grown on plates were considered. Staphylococci
(two-tailed) were considered significant. STATA software (v. 9.0;
were characterized to the species level by slidex agglutination
(Pastorex1, Bio-Rad), DNAse tests (homemade), the ID32 Staphy-lococcus Gallery (bioMe´rieux, Marcy l’Etoile, France), and/or the
Vitek ID system. The staphylococci were interpreted as the same ifsurrogate markers such as species, staphylococcal chromosomal
cassettes (SCC), presence of exfoliatins A and B, Panton–Valentineleukocidin, toxic shock syndrome toxins and agr gene regulator
A total of 205 episodes of staphylococcal orthopedic implant
genes, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns were identical. No
infection were retrieved. Of these, 42 were excluded due to:
typing was performed. Since clinical specimens had not been
follow-up shorter than 3 months or lost to follow-up (n = 32);
stored, no retrospective analyses of minimal inhibitory concentra-
substantial co-infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 2),
tions, e.g., for vancomycin against MRSA, could be performed.
Enterobacter cloacae (n = 2), Escherichia coli (n = 1), Propionibacter-ium acnes and Streptococcus constellatus (n = 1), and Enterococcus
faecalis (n = 1); infection of spondylodesis material (n = 2). Oneschizophrenic patient with MSSA infection was excluded because
Inclusion criteria were: the presence of an implant; local signs
of infection such as heat, erythema, pus, or functional impairment;
In the final evaluation, a total of 163 primary surgical site
a medical report; a targeted antibiotic treatment; and the presence
infections in 157 patients (73 females; median age 69 years,
of the same Staphylococcus sp in more than one intraoperative
interquartile range (IQR) 50–80 years) underwent further analysis.
The median follow-up time was 2.3 years (IQR 1.1–4.3 years).
Exclusion criteria were: antibiotic medication in the preceding
four weeks (to avoid a potential bias by ‘selection’ of methicillin-
resistant strains in microbiological samplings that might havebeen pre-treated with beta-lactam antibiotics, thus hiding other
The infected implants in the arthroplasty group included total
susceptible pathogens); an active follow-up shorter than 3 months
hip (n = 52), total knee (n = 29), and total ankle (n = 1). In the
after the end of treatment; and infections occurring after spinal
fracture fixation devices group, the infected implants included
surgery. Co-pathogens were accepted only if the Staphylococcus spp
plates/screws (n = 40), intramedullary nails (n = 16), external
outnumbered them by at least three-fold in intraoperative
fixation (n = 13), hip screws (n = 4), other screws (n = 4), patellar
cerclage wire (n = 3), and pins (n = 1).
Since infections of total joint arthroplasties might be different
from those following other orthopedic implant procedures, all
analyses were repeated for arthroplasty infections and fracturefixation devices separately. Arthroplasties were defined as total
There were 44 episodes due to MRSA, 58 due to MSSA, and 61
hip, total knee, and total ankle prostheses. The fracture fixation
due to CoNS. Community-acquired MRSA was not encountered.
device group encompassed intramedullary nails, plates/screws,
The species of CoNS were Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 36),
screws alone, external fixation, wires, and pins.
Staphylococcus lugdunensis (n = 3), Staphylococcus capitis (n = 2),
Cure was defined as complete clinical and microbiological
Staphylococcus hominis (n = 2), and one episode each of Staphylo-
resolution of the former infection after a minimum follow-up time
coccus intermedius, Staphylococcus simulans, Staphylococcus xylosus
of 1 year following the end of treatment. This follow-up was active,
and Staphylococcus schleiferi. The CoNS were not further identified
e.g., regular postoperative controls. There was also a passive
to the species level for 14 episodes.
D. Teterycz et al. / International Journal of Infectious Diseases 14 (2010) e913–e918
Table 1Characteristics and comparisons between three groups of staphylococcal orthopedic implant-associated infections
All types of implant infections (N = 163)
Median time delay between previous implantation and infection onset
MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MSSA, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus; CoNS, coagulase-negative staphylococci. Group comparisons were performed with the Wilcoxon rank sum test, Fisher’s exact test, or the Pearson Chi-square test, as appropriate.
a Only statistically significant p-values of 0.05 (two-tailed) are displayed. b Diabetes mellitus, transplantation, chronic alcoholism, neoplasia, Child’s class C cirrhosis, AIDS, steroid medication. Polytrauma did not count as chronic immunosuppression.
Eighty-seven staphylococci (53%; MRSA and CoNS) were
3.6. Overall outcomes for all implant infections
methicillin-resistant. Three staphylococci (all CoNS) were resistantto rifampin. Five MSSA patients, four MRSA patients, and two
Two patients died of septic shock due to MSSA and MRSA,
patients with CoNS were co-infected with other pathogens, with
respectively. They were not included in the final analysis as they
the Staphylococcus spp outnumbering these by at least three-fold in
were among the 32 patients excluded because of insufficient
microbiological specimens; pathogens included Klebsiella pneu-
moniae (n = 2), Proteus mirabilis (n = 2), CoNS (n = 2), and one case
Among the remaining 163 infections, cure was achieved in 57%
each of Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus pyogenes, MRSA,
(25/44) of all episodes of MRSA, in 72% (42/58) of MSSA, and in 82%
Streptococcus constellatus, and Enterobacter cloacae.
(50/61) of CoNS (These differences were not statisticallysignificant. Forty-three patients (27%, 43/157) had sequelae of
3.4. Clinical presentation of all implant infections
former infection, including: Girdlestone hip (n = 8), arthrodesis(n = 8), amputation (n = 4), and other functional handicaps and/or
summarizes the differences in clinical presentation
incapacitating pain (n = 23). MRSA-infected patients had signifi-
among the three groups of staphylococci for all types of implant
cantly more sequelae than MSSA or CoNS patients (13/44 vs. 93/
infections. Statistically significant differences included the follow-
119, odds ratio (OR) 3.4, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.3–8.9,
ing: MRSA infections had shorter incubation times; patients with
MSSA infections were younger than patients with methicillin-
Recurrence of infection always occurred locally and was seen in
resistant staphylococci; and bacteremia was witnessed only in S.
20 episodes (12%, 20/163) with a median delay of 94 days after the
aureus (MRSA and MSSA), but not in CoNS infections.
end of treatment. The number of recurrences were not statisticallydifferent between arthroplasty vs. fracture fixation device infec-
tions (12 vs. 8 recurrences, p = 0.36).
The median length of hospital stay for all staphylococcal
All patients received systemic antibiotic therapy directed towards
infections was 36 days (IQR 16–82 days). Patients with methicillin-
the causative pathogen for a median duration of 7 weeks (IQR 6–12
resistant infections (MRSA and resistant CoNS) stayed significantly
weeks). There were no significant differences in duration of
treatment between the staphylococcal groups or betweenarthroplasty and fracture fixation device infections (8 vs. 7 weeks,
p = 0.21). There were no clear preferences for the choice of antibioticagents. MRSA and CoNS were treated with vancomycin, doxycycline,and combinations of ciprofloxacin–rifampin or fusidic acid–rifam-
Upon stratification of the results into the staphylococcal groups,
pin. For MSSA, clindamycin, vancomycin, floxacillin, rifampin, and
for arthroplasty infection, cure was achieved in 39% (7/18) of MRSA
ciprofloxacin were used in the majority of cases. In 91 infections
episodes, in 60% (15/25) of MSSA episodes, and in 77% (30/39) of
(56%, 91/163), rifampin was used in combination therapy.
CoNS episodes. These differences were statistically significant
All but two patients underwent surgery, and the median
(Pearson Chi-square test between MRSA and CoNS, p = 0.008).
number of interventions to cure was two (IQR 1–2). There were no
Patients with arthroplasty infections (n = 82, 50%) were signifi-
significant differences in terms of number of surgical interventions
cantly older than those with fracture fixation device infections
between the staphylococcal groups or between the groups of
(n = 81, 50%; median age 73 vs. 55 years, p < 0.001), were more
arthroplasty vs. fracture fixation device infections (median
immunosuppressed (28/82 vs. 14/81, p = 0.014), had a longer
number two vs. two interventions, p = 0.65). In contrast, a revision
incubation time (median delay 176 vs. 50 days, p < 0.034), had
arthroplasty was more frequently performed in patients with CoNS
significantly lower cure rates (52/82 vs. 65/81, p = 0.017), a
infections than those with S. aureus infections
significantly shorter recurrence time to infection (median delay 71
D. Teterycz et al. / International Journal of Infectious Diseases 14 (2010) e913–e918
Table 2Characteristics and comparisons between three groups of staphylococcal arthroplasty infections
Median time delay between previous implantation and infection onset
MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MSSA, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus; CoNS, coagulase-negative staphylococci. Group comparisons were performed with the Wilcoxon rank sum test, Fisher’s exact test, or the Pearson Chi-square test, as appropriate.
a Only statistically significant p-values of 0.05 (two-tailed) are displayed. b Diabetes mellitus, transplantation, chronic alcoholism, neoplasia, Child’s class C cirrhosis, AIDS, steroid medication.
vs. 129 days, p = 0.011), and a longer hospitalization (median
disease (for all types of infection). In contrast, infection due to
duration 52 vs. 24 days, p < 0.001), and were more likely to receive
MRSA was inversely associated with as was the case in the
a new implant (34/82 vs. 15/81, p = 0.001). In contrast, the
group of arthroplasty infections compared to the group with
proportions of implant removal were similar (62 vs. 59, p = 0.69).
fracture fixation devices, which were mostly removed when
summarizes the characteristics of arthroplasty patients
infected. As previously reported by others,patient demo-
stratified by staphylococcal infection. Of note, MRSA infections
graphics (immunosuppression, sex, age), disease intensity (bac-
occurred at a significantly higher patient age, had shorter
teremia), and treatment modalities (rifampin duration of
incubation times, and benefited less from the use of rifampin.
antibiotic therapy, number of surgical interventions, proportion ofone-stage revisions) did not influence cure.
One explanation for the lower cure rates of MRSA infections
might lie in the lower proportion of new implants inserted in MRSA
summarizes the univariate and the multivariate results
infections as compared to those patients with CoNS disease. This is
of logistic regression. In multivariate analysis including all implant
highlighted by significantly more sequelae for patients with MRSA
infections, arthroplasty (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1–0.6) and MRSA
infections. Theoretically, a higher sequelae risk might be a sign that
infections (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.9) were significantly associated
surgeons did not perform revision surgery and did not put in a new
with lower cure outcomes, whereas CoNS infection (OR 3.0, 95% CI
implant. We cannot completely exclude this decision bias.
1.2–8.0) and the insertion of a new implant (OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.6–
It is clear that infection with S. aureus demonstrates an
13.1) were significantly associated with higher cure results.
enhanced virulence. For example bacteremic disease, a hallmark
In the separate analysis for the group of arthroplasty infections
of S. aureus infection, was not seen in CoNS disease. Two patients in
only, a new implant (OR 12.8, 95% CI 2.7–61.9) showed a
our study died secondary to S. aureus septicemia. Contrary to the
statistically significant association with cure, while in the group
evidence for staphylococcal bloodstream infections,non-pros-
of fracture fixation device infections, no parameter reached
thetic surgical site infections,and community-acquired MRSA,
it remains unclear whether staphylococcal methicillin resistanceamong S. aureus or CoNS results in failure of treatment in localized
tissue infections. While in vitro point to this concept, invivo studies show conflicting results. Al-Nammari et al. reported
Our study shows that clinical features and outcomes differ
the same duration of antimicrobial therapy and the same number
considerably in orthopedic implant infections due to MRSA, MSSA,
of surgical interventions for the treatment of septic arthritis
or CoNS. Overall, cure increased from 57% for MRSA, to 72% for
whether due to MRSA or Volin et al. demonstrated that
MSSA, and to 82% for CoNS. This tendency was also similar when
methicillin resistance did not influence the probability of cure in
considering arthroplasty infections separately, with corresponding
patients with two-stage re-implantation after total joint infec-
cure rates of 39%, 60%, and 77%, respectively. In our study, the
tion.In contrast, Kilgus et al. showed that infection following hip
overall infection recurrence rate was only 12%, which is less than
arthroplasty secondary to MRSA was treated successfully in only
reported rates of 26%and 38%in the literature.
48% of cases, as compared to 81% with MSSA infection.Salgado
When adjusted in multivariate analysis, revision arthroplasty
et al. attributed a nine-fold higher hazard ratio to treatment failure
with insertion of a new implant (for arthroplasty infections) was
in prosthetic joint infections due to MRSA than due to MSSA.In
the most significant protective factor for cure, followed by CoNS
our analysis, methicillin resistance per se was not a risk factor for
D. Teterycz et al. / International Journal of Infectious Diseases 14 (2010) e913–e918
Table 3Predictors of cure in staphylococcal orthopedic implant-associated infections
MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MSSA, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus; CoNS, coagulase-negative staphylococci.
a Only statistically significant p-values of 0.05 (two-tailed) are displayed. b MRSA and methicillin-resistant CoNS.
failure, but was related to a higher age and a longer length of
hospital stay.This reflects nosocomial aspects rather than damageby the pathogen itself, because methicillin-resistant infections
We are indebted to Christophe Barea, Medical Informatics, for
more likely occur in the elderly population with more co-
his help in retrieving data. We thank the teams of the Orthopedic
Service and the Laboratory of Bacteriology for their clinical
Our study has limitations: (1) It was retrospective, from a single
institution, and with a small sample size, thus limiting the
Ethical approval: The study was approved by the hospital ethics
generalizability of the findings. (2) Patients with an infection
committee (No. 05-017, 05-041, 08-017R, 08-029R). No informed
treated in another hospital may have been undetected. However,
given that the Geneva University Hospitals comprise the largest
Conflict of interest: No conflict of interest to declare.
and only public hospital in the area, and given the active post-discharge follow-up of our patients, we consider this selection bias
to be minimal. (3) We used databases with microbiologicaldocumentation, with another possible selection bias for infections
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