Infections after spine instrumentation: effectiveness of short antibiotic treatment in a large multicentre cohort.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Available information about infection after spine instrumentation (IASI) and its management are scarce. We aimed to analyse DAIR (debridement, antibiotics and implant retention) prognosis and evaluate effectiveness of short antibiotic courses on early forms. METHODS: Multicentre retrospective study of patients with IASI managed surgically (January 2010-December 2016). Risk factors for failure were analysed by multivariate Cox regression and differences between short and long antibiotic treatment were evaluated with a propensity score-matched analysis. RESULTS: Of the 411 IASI cases, 300 (73%) presented in the first month after surgery, 48 in the second month, 22 in the third and 41 thereafter. Infections within the first 2 months (early cases) occurred mainly to older patients, with local inflammatory signs and predominance of Enterobacteriaceae, unlike those in the later periods. When managed with DAIR, prognosis of early cases was better than later ones (failure rate 10.4% versus 26.1%, respectively; P = 0.02). Risk factors for DAIR failure in early cases were female sex, Charlson Score, large fusions (>6 levels) and polymicrobial infections (adjusted HRs of 2.4, 1.3, 2.6 and 2.26, respectively). Propensity score matching proved shorter courses of antibiotics (4-6 weeks) as effective as longer courses (failure rates 11.4% and 10.5%, respectively; P = 0.870). CONCLUSIONS: IASIs within the first 2 months could be managed effectively with DAIR and shorter antibiotic courses. Clinicians should be cautious when faced with patients with comorbidities, large fusions and/or polymicrobial infections.

Executive summary: Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of septic arthritis in adults and children, developed by the GEIO (SEIMC), SEIP and SECOT.

Infection of a native joint, commonly referred to as septic arthritis, is a medical emergency because of the risk of joint destruction and subsequent sequelae. Its diagnosis requires a high level of suspicion. These guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of septic arthritis in children and adults are intended for use by any physician caring for patients with suspected or confirmed septic arthritis. They have been developed by a multidisciplinary panel with representatives from the Bone and Joint Infections Study Group (GEIO) belonging to the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), the Spanish Society of Paediatric Infections (SEIP) and the Spanish Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (SECOT), and two rheumatologists. The recommendations are based on evidence derived from a systematic literature review and, failing that, on the opinion of the experts who prepared these guidelines. A detailed description of the background, methods, summary of evidence, the rationale supporting each recommendation, and gaps in knowledge can be found online in the complete document.

Cutibacterium spp. Infections after Instrumented Spine Surgery Have a Good Prognosis Regardless of Rifampin Use: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Infection after spinal instrumentation (IASI) by Cutibacterium spp. is being more frequently reported. The aim of this study was to analyse the incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and outcome of a Cutibacterium spp. IASI (CG) compared with non-Cutibacterium IASI (NCG) infections, with an additional focus on the role of rifampin in the treatment. All patients from a multicentre, retrospective, observational study with a confirmed IASI between January 2010 and December 2016 were divided into two groups: (CG and NCG) IASI. Baseline, medical, surgical, infection treatment, and follow-up data were compared for both groups. In total, 411 patients were included: 27 CG and 384 NCG. The CG patients were significantly younger. They had a longer median time to diagnosis (23 vs. 13 days) (p = 0.025), although 55.6% debuted within the first month after surgery. Cutibacterium patients were more likely to have the implant removed (29.6% vs. 12.8%; p = 0.014) and received shorter antibiotic regimens (p = 0.014). In 33% of Cutibacterium cases, rifampin was added to the baseline therapy. None of the 27 infections resulted in treatment failure during follow-up regardless of rifampin use. Cutibacterium spp. is associated with a younger age and may cause both early and late IASIs. In our experience, the use of rifampin to improve the outcome in the treatment of a Cutibacterium spp. IASI is not relevant since, in our series, none of the cases had therapeutic failure regardless of the use of rifampin.