Photoimmuno-antimicrobial therapy for Staphylococcus aureus implant infection.

INTRODUCTION: Implant infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus are responsible for high mortality and morbidity worldwide. Treatment of these infections can be difficult especially when bacterial biofilms are involved. In this study we investigate the potential of infrared photoimmunotherapy to eradicate staphylococcal infection in a mouse model. METHODS: A monoclonal antibody that targets Wall Teichoic Acid surface components of both S. aureus and its biofilm (4497-IgG1) was conjugated to a photosensitizer (IRDye700DX) and used as photoimmunotherapy in vitro and in vivo in mice with a subcutaneous implant pre-colonized with biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus. A dose of 400 µg and 200 µg of antibody-photosensitizer conjugate 4497-IgG-IRDye700DXwas administered intravenously to two groups of 5 mice. In addition, multiple control groups (vancomycin treated, unconjugated IRDye700DX and IRDye700DX conjugated to a non-specific antibody) were used to verify anti-microbial effects. RESULTS: In vitro results of 4497-IgG-IRDye700DX on pre-colonized (biofilm) implants showed significant (p<0.01) colony-forming units (CFU) reduction at a concentration of 5 µg of the antibody-photosensitizer conjugate. In vivo, treatment with 4497-IgG-IRDye700DX showed no significant CFU reduction at the implant infection. However, tissue around the implant did show a significant CFU reduction with 400 µg 4497-IgG-IRDye700DX compared to control groups (p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the antimicrobial potential of photoimmunotherapy for selectively eliminating S. aureus in vivo. However, using a solid implant instead of a catheter could result in an increased bactericidal effect of 4497-IgG-IRDye700DX and administration locally around an implant (per operative) could become valuable applications in patients that are difficult to treat with conventional methods. We conclude that photoimmunotherapy could be a potential additional therapy in the treatment of implant related infections, but requires further improvement.

Pre-operative synovial hyperaemia in haemophilia patients undergoing total knee replacement and the effects of genicular artery embolization: A retrospective cohort study.

AIM: Haemophilia is characterized by recurrent joint bleeding caused by a lack of clotting factor VIII or IX. Due to repeated joint bleeding, end-stage arthropathy occurs in relatively young patients. A total knee replacement (TKR) can be a solution. However, TKR may be complicated by perioperative and postoperative bleeds despite clotting factor therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of pre-operative synovial hyperaemia and the effects of Genicular Artery Embolization on synovial hyperaemia and 3-month postoperative joint bleeding. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, all patients with haemophilia who underwent periarticular catheter angiography between 2009 and 2020 were evaluated after written informed consent. Synovial hyperaemia on angiography was scored by an interventional radiologist. RESULTS: Thirty-three angiography procedures in 24 patients were evaluated. Median age was 54.4 years (IQR 48.4-65.9). Preoperative synovial hyperaemia was observed in 21/33 joints (64%). Moderate and severe synovial hyperaemia was observed in 10/33 joints (30%). Synovial hyperaemia decreased in 13/15 (87%) joints after embolization. Three-month postoperative joint bleeding occurred in 5/32 joints: in 2/18 joints (11%) without synovial hyperaemia and in 3/14 joints (21%) with mild synovial hypertrophy. Non-embolized and embolized joints did not differ regarding 3-month postoperative bleeding (P = .425). No complications were observed after embolization. CONCLUSION: One-third of patients with haemophilia requiring a TKR had moderate or severe synovial hyperaemia which can be reduced safely by Genicular Artery Embolization prior to TKR. Three-month postoperative bleeding appears to occur independently of the presence of residual mild synovial hyperaemia.

Evaluation of silver bio-functionality in a multicellular in vitro model: towards reduced animal usage in implant-associated infection research.

Background: Despite the extensive use of silver ions or nanoparticles in research related to preventing implant-associated infections (IAI), their use in clinical practice has been debated. This is because the strong antibacterial properties of silver are counterbalanced by adverse effects on host cells. One of the reasons for this may be the lack of comprehensive in vitro models that are capable of analyzing host-bacteria and host-host interactions. Methods and results: In this study, we tested silver efficacy through multicellular in vitro models involving macrophages (immune system), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs, bone cells), and S. aureus (pathogen). Our model showed to be capable of identifying each element of culture as well as tracking the intracellular survival of bacteria. Furthermore, the model enabled to find a therapeutic window for silver ions (AgNO3) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) where the viability of host cells was not compromised, and the antibacterial properties of silver were maintained. While AgNO3 between 0.00017 and 0.017 µg/mL retained antibacterial properties, host cell viability was not affected. The multicellular model, however, demonstrated that those concentrations had no effect on the survival of S. aureus, inside or outside host cells. Similarly, treatment with 20 nm AgNPs did not influence the phagocytic and killing capacity of macrophages or prevent S. aureus from invading MSCs. Moreover, exposure to 100 nm AgNPs elicited an inflammatory response by host cells as detected by the increased production of TNF-α and IL-6. This was visible only when macrophages and MSCs were cultured together. Conclusions: Multicellular in vitro models such as the one used here that simulate complex in vivo scenarios can be used to screen other therapeutic compounds or antibacterial biomaterials without the need to use animals.

Evaluating the Targeting of a Staphylococcus-aureus-Infected Implant with a Radiolabeled Antibody In Vivo.

Implant infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus are difficult to treat due to biofilm formation, which complicates surgical and antibiotic treatment. We introduce an alternative approach using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting S. aureus and provide evidence of the specificity and biodistribution of S.-aureus-targeting antibodies in a mouse implant infection model. The monoclonal antibody 4497-IgG1 targeting wall teichoic acid in S. aureus was labeled with indium-111 using CHX-A"-DTPA as a chelator. Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography/computed tomographyscans were performed at 24, 72 and 120 h after administration of the 111In-4497 mAb in Balb/cAnNCrl mice with a subcutaneous implant that was pre-colonized with S. aureus biofilm. The biodistribution of this labelled antibody over various organs was visualized and quantified using SPECT/CT imaging, and was compared to the uptake at the target tissue with the implanted infection. Uptake of the 111In-4497 mAbs at the infected implant gradually increased from 8.34 %ID/cm3 at 24 h to 9.22 %ID/cm3 at 120 h. Uptake at the heart/blood pool decreased over time from 11.60 to 7.58 %ID/cm3, whereas the uptake in the other organs decreased from 7.26 to less than 4.66 %ID/cm3 at 120 h. The effective half-life of 111In-4497 mAbs was determined to be 59 h. In conclusion, 111In-4497 mAbs were found to specifically detect S. aureus and its biofilm with excellent and prolonged accumulation at the site of the colonized implant. Therefore, it has the potential to serve as a drug delivery system for the diagnostic and bactericidal treatment of biofilm.

Ankle joint distraction is a promising alternative treatment for patients with severe haemophilic ankle arthropathy.

INTRODUCTION: Haemophilic ankle arthropathy (HAA) causes major morbidity. When conservative treatment fails, major surgical interventions are indicated. An alternative treatment to maintain joint mobility and postpone these interventions is desired. AIM: To gather prospective data on clinical/structural changes after ankle joint distraction (AJD) in HAA. METHODS: This study includes patients with severe HAA insufficiently responding to conservative treatment. AJD was performed during 8-10 weeks by use of an external frame. Questionnaires, physical examination and radiology were used to evaluate pain, function and structural changes before and 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after distraction. Mixed effect models were used for analysis. RESULTS: This study includes eight cases (21-53 years). The fixed effects estimates of the visual analogue score (0-10) improved from 7.5 at baseline to 3.4 (p = .023) 3 years after distraction. The Haemophilia Activities List (HAL, 0-100) for basic/complex lower extremities functions improved from respectively 29.6 and 31.5 to 54.3 (p = .015) and 50.7 (p = .031). Joint mobility was maintained. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed thickened cartilage and reduced bone marrow oedema and subchondral cysts. Pin tract infections (n = 6) were effectively treated and no adverse bleeding events occurred. At 3-year follow-up, in none of the patients the originally indicated arthrodesis was performed. CONCLUSION: This first prospective study showed that AJD in HAA results in decreased pain, improved function and decreased arthropathy-related MRI findings in the majority of patients for prolonged time. Although the study population is small and follow-up is relatively short, AJD may be promising to postpone invalidating interventions and might be a breakthrough treatment.

A mean 4-year evaluation of infection control rates of hip and knee prosthetic joint infection-related revision arthroplasty: an observational study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The long-term results of the 1- or 2-stage revision procedure and infection-free prosthesis survival in a tertiary referral center are unknown. In this retrospective observational study, the long-term results of infection control and infection-free prosthesis survival of the periprosthetic joint infection-related 1- and 2-stage revision procedure are evaluated. Furthermore, the merits of performing an antibiotic-free window in the 2-stage revision is evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients who received a 1- or 2-stage revision procedure of the hip or knee between 2010 and 2017 were included. Data was collected on patient and infection characteristics. The primary treatment aim was successful infection control without the use of antibiotic therapy afterwards. Infection-free survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method with type of periprosthetic joint infection-related revision as covariate. Within the group of 2-stage revisions, use of an antibioticfree window was selected as covariate. RESULTS: 128 patients were treated for a periprosthetic joint infection-related revision procedure (81 hips and 47 knees). Successful infection control was achieved in 18 of 21 cases for the 1-stage and 89 out of 107 cases for the 2-stage revision procedure (83%) respectively after follow-up of more than 4 years. In addition, 2-stage revision procedure infection control was achieved in 52 of 60 cases with an antibiotic-free interval and 37 of 45 cases without such interval (p = 0.6). The mean infection-free survival of the 1-stage revision was 90 months (95% CI 75-105) and 98 months (CI 90-106) for the 2-stage revision procedure. INTERPRETATION: There seems to be no difference in infection control and infection-free survival between the 1- and 2-stage revision procedure. Second, an antibiotic-free window in the case of a 2-stage revision did not seem to influence treatment outcome. However, one must be cautious when interpreting these results due to confounding by indication and the small study population. Therefore, no definite conclusion can be drawn.

Human monoclonal antibodies against Staphylococcus aureus surface antigens recognize in vitro and in vivo biofilm.

Implant-associated Staphylococcus aureus infections are difficult to treat because of biofilm formation. Bacteria in a biofilm are often insensitive to antibiotics and host immunity. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) could provide an alternative approach to improve the diagnosis and potential treatment of biofilm-related infections. Here, we show that mAbs targeting common surface components of S. aureus can recognize clinically relevant biofilm types. The mAbs were also shown to bind a collection of clinical isolates derived from different biofilm-associated infections (endocarditis, prosthetic joint, catheter). We identify two groups of antibodies: one group that uniquely binds S. aureus in biofilm state and one that recognizes S. aureus in both biofilm and planktonic state. Furthermore, we show that a mAb recognizing wall teichoic acid (clone 4497) specifically localizes to a subcutaneously implanted pre-colonized catheter in mice. In conclusion, we demonstrate the capacity of several human mAbs to detect S. aureus biofilms in vitro and in vivo.

Long-term outcome of two-stage revision surgery after hip and knee prosthetic joint infections: an observational study.

Introduction: Two-stage revision surgery is the most frequently performed procedure in patients with a chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). The infection eradication rates in the current literature differ between 54 % and 100 %, which could be attributed to different treatment strategies. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the infection eradication rate in patients with chronic PJI treated with two-stage revision surgery of the hip or knee in primary and re-revision cases. Methods: All patients treated with a two-stage revision for chronic PJI between 2005 and 2011 were analysed. Patient and infection characteristics were retrieved. Primary outcome was successful infection eradication at last follow-up. Successful eradication is specified as no need for subsequent revision surgery or suppressive antibiotic treatment. Results: Forty-seven patients were treated with a two-stage revision. Infection eradication was achieved in 36 out of 47 cases. Thirty-eight patients had positive cultures: 35 monomicrobial infections and 3 polymicrobial infections. Nine cases of culture-negative infections were identified. Accompanying eradication rates were 26 out of 35 cases, 2 out of 3 cases, and 8 out of 9 cases respectively. Mean follow-up was 128 (27-186) months. For hip and knee revisions the eradication rates were 22 out of 31 cases and 14 out of 16 cases respectively. After primary arthroplasty the infection was eradicated in 29 out of 38 cases and after re-revision in 7 out of 9 cases. Conclusion: In this study, the infection eradication rate for two-stage revision surgery after PJI of the hip and knee in primary and re-revision cases was 77 %. No statistically significant patient, infection and micro-organism characteristics were found which influence the infection eradication rates at long-term follow-up of 128 (27-186) months.

The Role of Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy in Patients with Fracture-Related Infection: A Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal.

INTRODUCTION: Fracture-related infection (FRI) is a severe musculoskeletal complication in orthopedic trauma surgery, causing challenges in bony and soft tissue management. Currently, negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is often used as temporary coverage for traumatic and surgical wounds, also in cases of FRI. However, controversy exists about the impact of NPWT on the outcome in FRI, specifically on infection recurrence. Therefore, this systematic review qualitatively assesses the literature on the role of NPWT in the management of FRI. METHODS: A literature search of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science database was performed. Studies that reported on infection recurrence related to FRI management combined with NPWT were eligible for inclusion. Quality assessment was done using the PRISMA statement and the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. RESULTS: After screening and quality assessment of 775 unique identified records, eight articles could be included for qualitative synthesis. All eight studies reported on infection recurrence, which ranged from 2.8% to 34.9%. Six studies described wound healing time, varying from two to seven weeks. Four studies took repeated microbial swabs during subsequent vacuum dressing changes. One study reported newly detected pathogens in 23% of the included patients, and three studies did not find new pathogens. CONCLUSION: This review provides an assessment of current literature on the role of NPWT in the management of soft tissue defects in patients with FRI. Due to the lack of uniformity in included studies, conclusions should be drawn with caution. Currently, there is no clear scientific evidence to support the use of NPWT as definitive treatment in FRI. At this stage, we can only recommend early soft tissue coverage (within days) with a local or free flap. NPWT may be safe for a few days as temporarily soft tissue coverage until definitive soft tissue management could be performed. However, comparative studies between NPWT and early wound closure in FRI patients are needed.

One-year infection control rates of a DAIR (debridement, antibiotics and implant retention) procedure after primary and prosthetic-joint-infection-related revision arthroplasty - a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR) procedures are effective treatments for acute postoperative or acute hematogenous periprosthetic joint infections. However, literature reporting on the effectiveness of DAIR procedures performed after a one- or two-stage revision because of a prosthetic joint infection (PJI) (PJI-related revision arthroplasty) is scarce. The aim of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the infection control after 1 year of a DAIR procedure in the case of an early postoperative infection either after primary arthroplasty or after PJI-related revision arthroplasty. Materials and methods: All patients treated with a DAIR procedure within 3 months after onset of PJI between 2009 and 2017 were retrospectively included. Data were collected on patient and infection characteristics. All infections were confirmed by applying the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) 2014 criteria. The primary outcome was successful control of infection at 1 year after a DAIR procedure, which was defined as the absence of clinical signs, such as pain, swelling, and erythema; radiological signs, such as protheses loosening; or laboratory signs, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) ( < 10 ) with no use of antibiotic therapy. Results: Sixty-seven patients were treated with a DAIR procedure (41 hips and 26 knees). Successful infection control rates of a DAIR procedure after primary arthroplasty ( n = 51 ) and after prior PJI-related revision arthroplasty ( n = 16 ) were 69 % and 56 %, respectively ( p = 0.38 ). The successful infection control rates of a DAIR procedure after an early acute infection ( n = 35 ) and after a hematogenous infection ( n = 16 ) following primary arthroplasty were both 69 % ( p = 1.00 ). Conclusion: In this limited study population, no statistically significant difference is found in infection control after 1 year between DAIR procedures after primary arthroplasty and PJI-related revision arthroplasty.

The EBJIS definition of periprosthetic joint infection.

AIMS: The diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) can be difficult. All current diagnostic tests have problems with accuracy and interpretation of results. Many new tests have been proposed, but there is no consensus on the place of many of these in the diagnostic pathway. Previous attempts to develop a definition of PJI have not been universally accepted and there remains no reference standard definition. METHODS: This paper reports the outcome of a project developed by the European Bone and Joint Infection Society (EBJIS), and supported by the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) and the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Implant-Associated Infections (ESGIAI). It comprised a comprehensive review of the literature, open discussion with Society members and conference delegates, and an expert panel assessment of the results to produce the final guidance. RESULTS: This process evolved a three-level approach to the diagnostic continuum, resulting in a definition set and guidance, which has been fully endorsed by EBJIS, MSIS, and ESGIAI. CONCLUSION: The definition presents a novel three-level approach to diagnosis, based on the most robust evidence, which will be useful to clinicians in daily practice. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(1):18-25.

Sonication Leads to Clinically Relevant Changes in Treatment of Periprosthetic Hip or Knee Joint Infection.

Background: Diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) can be troublesome. Sonication can be a helpful tool in culturing bacteria that are difficult to detect with standard tissue cultures. Aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical importance of our standardized sonication protocol in detecting periprosthetic joint infection. Materials and methods: All patients with revision surgery of a hip or knee prosthesis between 2011 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed and divided in two groups: clinically suspected of infection or not suspected of infection. For both tissue culture and implant sonication, calculations of sensitivity and specificity were performed. Clinical relevance of sonication was evaluated by calculating in which percentage of patients' sonication influenced clinical treatment. Results: 226 patients with revision of a total hip prosthesis (122 patients) or a total knee prosthesis (104 patients) were included. Sensitivity of perioperatively taken tissue cultures was 94.3% and specificity was 99.3%. For sonication sensitivity was 80.5% and specificity was 97.8%. In the infection group eight patients (9%) with only one positive tissue culture and a positive sonication fluid culture with the same pathogen were found. Interpretation: Although sensitivity and specificity of sonication was lower compared to tissue cultures, periprosthetic joint infection could only be established in 8 patients (9%) suspected of infection because of a positive result of the sonication fluid culture. Sonication leads to clinically relevant changes in treatment and seems therefore to be a helpful diagnostic tool in clinical practice.

Can dual mobility cups prevent dislocation without increasing revision rates in primary total hip arthroplasty? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Dislocation is one of the leading causes for early revision surgery after total hip arthroplasty (THA). To address this problem, the dual mobility (DM) cup was developed in the 1970s by the French. Despite the increased and, in some countries, broad use of DM cups, high quality evidence of their effectiveness compared to traditional unipolar (UP) cups is lacking. There are a few well-conducted literature reviews, but the level of evidence of the included studies was moderate to low and the rates of revision were not specifically investigated. Therefore, we did a systematic review to investigate whether there is a difference in the rate of dislocations and revisions after primary THA with a DM cup or a UP cup. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases in July 2019. The articles were selected based upon their quality, relevance and measurement of the predictive factor. We used the MINORS criteria to determine the methodological quality of all studies. RESULTS: The initial search resulted in 702 citations. After application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, eight articles met our eligibility criteria and were graded. Included studies were of medium to low methodological quality with a mean score of 14/24 (11-16) points following the MINORS criteria. In the case-control studies, a total of 549 DM cups and 649 UP cups were included. In the registry studies, a total of 5.935 DM cups and 217.362 UP cups were included. In the case-control studies, one (0.2%) dislocation was reported for the DM cups and 46 (7.1%) for the UP cup (p=0.009, IQR=0.00-7.00). Nine (1.6%) revisions, of which zero due to dislocation, were reported for the DM cup and 39 (6.0%), of which 30 due to dislocation, for the UP cup (p=0.046, CI=-16.93-5.73). In the registry studies 161 (2.7%) revisions were reported for the DM cup, of which 14 (8.7%) due to dislocation. For the UP cup, 3.332 (1.5%) revisions were reported (p=0.275, IQR=41.00-866.25), of which 1.093 (32.8%) due to dislocation (p=0.050, IQR=3.50-293.25). CONCLUSION: This review suggests lower rates of dislocation and lower rates of revision for dislocation in favor of the DM cups. Concluding, DM cups might be an effective solution to reduce dislocation in primary THA. To evaluate the efficacy of DM cups compared to UP cups, an economic evaluation alongside a randomized controlled trial is needed focusing on patient important endpoints. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, systematic review of level III studies.

Impact of Bacterial Infections on Osteogenesis: Evidence From In Vivo Studies.

The clinical impact of bacterial infections on bone regeneration has been incompletely quantified and documented. As a result, controversy exists about the optimal treatment strategy to maximize healing of a contaminated defect. Animal models are extremely useful in this respect, as they can elucidate how a bacterial burden influences quantitative healing of various types of defects relative to non-infected controls. Moreover, they may demonstrate how antibacterial treatment and/or bone grafting techniques facilitate the osteogenic response in the harsh environment of a bacterial infection. Finally, it a well-known contradiction that osteomyelitis is characterized by uncontrolled bone remodeling and bone loss, but at the same time, it can be associated with excessive new bone apposition. Animal studies can provide a better understanding of how osteolytic and osteogenic responses are related to each other during infection. This review discusses the in vivo impact of bacterial infection on osteogenesis by addressing the following questions (i) How does osteomyelitis affect the radiographic bone appearance? (ii) What is the influence of bacterial infection on histological bone healing? (iii) How do bacterial infections affect quantitative bone healing? (iv) What is the effect of antibacterial treatment on the healing outcome during infection? (v) What is the efficacy of osteoinductive proteins in infected bones? (vi) What is the balance between the osteoclastic and osteoblastic response during bacterial infections? (vii) What is the mechanism of the observed pro-osteogenic response as observed in osteomyelitis? © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research© published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society. J Orthop Res 37:2067-2076, 2019.

The effect of body mass index on the risk of surgical site infection.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is considered a risk factor for surgical site infection (SSI). We quantified impact of body mass index (BMI) on the risk of SSI for a variety of surgical procedures. METHODS: We included 2012-2017 data from the Dutch national surveillance network PREZIES on a selection of frequently performed surgical procedures across different specialties. Patients were stratified into 5 categories: underweight (BMI, <18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (BMI, 18.5-25), overweight (BMI, 25-30), obese (BMI, 30-40) and morbidly obese (BMI, ≥40). Multilevel log binomial regression analyses were performed to assess the effect of BMI category on the risk of superficial, deep (including organ-space) and total SSI. RESULTS: Of the 387,919 included patients (ranging from 2,616 for laparoscopic appendectomy to 119,834 for total hip prosthesis), 3,676 (1%) were underweight, 116,778 (30%) had normal weight, 154,339 (40%) were overweight, 104,288 (27%) had obesity, and 8,838 (2%) were morbidly obese. A trend of increasing risk of SSI when BMI increased from normal to morbidly obese was observed for almost all surgery types. The increase was most profound in surgeries with clean wounds, with relative risks for morbidly obese patients ranging up to 7.8 (95% CI, 6.0-10.2) for deep SSI in total hip prosthesis. In chest and abdominal surgeries, the impact was larger for superficial SSI than for deep SSI. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our research provide evidence for the need of preventive programs targeting SSI in overweight and obese patients, as well as for the prevention of obesity in the general population.

The efficacy of intrawound vancomycin powder and povidone-iodine irrigation to prevent surgical site infections in complex instrumented spine surgery.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are notorious complications in spinal surgery and cause substantial patient morbidity. Intraoperative decontamination of the wound with povidone-iodine irrigation or vancomycin powder has gained attention lately, but the efficacy of either intervention is unclear. PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of intrawound povidone-iodine or vancomycin in reducing the incidence of deep- and superficial SSIs in instrumented spinal surgery. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Retrospective cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE: A retrospective chart review was performed including all consecutive adult patients undergoing open, posterior, instrumented spinal surgery at any level between January 2012 and August 2017. OUTCOME MEASURES: The presence of SSI was evaluated according to the criteria published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The SSIs were divided into deep SSIs (below the muscular fascia) and superficial SSIs (above the muscular fascia). METHODS: A retrospective cohort without intrawound treatment was compared with two separate, consecutive intervention groups. One intrawound group received 1.3g/L povidone-iodine irrigation and the other received 1-2 grams of intrawound vancomycin powder at the end of surgery. Incidence of SSIs, as well as demographic, surgical and patient-related variables were registered and compared between groups. In patients with SSI, additional microbiological data were collected. RESULTS: In total, 853 patients were included. In the control group (N=257), 25 (9.7%) patients developed a deep and 13 (5.1%) developed a superficial SSI. In the povidone-iodine group (N=217), 21 (9.7%) patients developed a deep and two (0.9%) developed a superficial SSI. Compared with the control group, there was no significant difference in the incidence of deep SSIs (risk ratio [RR]: 1.00, 95% CI 0.57-1.73), although the number of superficial SSIs was reduced significantly (RR 0.18, 95% CI 0.04-0.80). In the vancomycin group (N=379), 19 (5.0%) patients developed a deep and six (1.6%) developed a superficial SSI. Both deep (RR: 0.52, 95% CI 0.29-0.92) and superficial SSIs (RR: 0.31, 95% CI 0.12-0.81) were significantly reduced in the vancomycin group compared with the control group, even when correcting for several risk factors associated with SSIs in a multivariable logistic regression analysis. There were no significant differences in complications between the 3 groups. No gram-negative selection or vancomycin-resistance was seen in the vancomycin group. CONCLUSIONS: Intrawound application of vancomycin was associated with a significant reduction in both deep and superficial SSIs in instrumented spinal surgery. A 1.3g/L intrawound povidone-iodine solution did not show a reduction in deep SSIs, although a reduction of superficial SSIs was observed.

[Prosthetic joint infection]. / Geïnfecteerde gewrichtsprothese.

Prosthetic joint infection A prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a serious complication that can lead to lengthy hospitalization, significant limitations in mobility, and a reduced quality of life. For acute PJI, the aim is to cure the infection whilst retaining the prosthesis; this can be achieved by means of thorough surgical debridement, cleaning of the artificial material, replacement of exchangeable prosthesis parts and adjuvant antibiotic therapy. In cases of chronic PJI, the prosthetic joint needs to be replaced. For patients in whom surgery is not feasible, or who refuse surgical intervention, chronic suppressive antibiotic therapy can be applied if the infection persists. In order to increase the likelihood of a favourable outcome, it is important to take a multidisciplinary approach.

Real-time visual biofeedback to improve therapy compliance after total hip arthroplasty: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown limited therapy compliance in weight-bearing in patients following total hip arthroplasty. RESEARCH QUESTION: The purpose of this pilot RCT is to determine the immediate and late effect of real-time, visual biofeedback on weight-bearing during rehabilitation after THA in elderly. METHODS: 24 participants who underwent THA were randomized to either the control or the intervention group. The intervention group received real-time, visual biofeedback on weight-bearing during training with the physical therapist during hospitalization and at twelve weeks follow up. RESULTS: Without biofeedback, therapy compliance was limited. Significant improvement in peak load was found in the intervention group in the early postoperative phase. In contrast to the control group, the peak load at twelve weeks was significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the pre-operative peak load, indicating a lasting effect of early biofeedback. Other gait parameters were not significantly different in the early postoperative phase. In the intervention group a longer walking distance was observed and the use of walking aids was reduced at twelve weeks. SIGNIFICANCE: Biofeedback systems could be promising to improve outcomes and reduce costs in future rehabilitation programs after THA.

Inflammation-Induced Osteogenesis in a Rabbit Tibia Model.

Pathologic conditions associated with bone formation can serve as models to identify bone-promoting mediators. The inflammatory response to bacterial infections generally leads to osteolysis and impaired bone healing, but paradoxically, it can also have pro-osteogenic effects. As a potential model to investigate pro-osteogenic stimuli, this study characterizes the bone formation in an established rabbit tibia model of periprosthetic infection. Our hypothesis was that the infection with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) correlates with bone formation as a response to local inflammation. Fluorochromes showed excessive subperiosteal bone formation in infected tibiae, starting the first week and continuing throughout the study period. Despite the observed cortical lysis on micro-CT after 28 days, infection resulted in a twofold higher bone volume in the proximal tibiae compared to uninfected controls. The ipsilateral fibulae, nor the contralateral fibulae or tibiae were affected by infection. Next, we sought to confine the cause of stimulated bone formation to the isolated S. aureus cell wall. In absence of virulent bacterial infection, the S. aureus cell wall extract induced bone in a more favorable way without cortical lysis. This suggests that the sterile inflammatory reaction to bacterial antigens may be harnessed for bone regenerative purposes. Future investigations in this rabbit tibia model can lead to further identification of effective stimuli for clinical application.

Missed low-grade infection in suspected aseptic loosening has no consequences for the survival of total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Aseptic loosening and infection are 2 of the most common causes of revision of hip implants. Antibiotic prophylaxis reduces not only the rate of revision due to infection but also the rate of revision due to aseptic loosening. This suggests under-diagnosis of infections in patients with presumed aseptic loosening and indicates that current diagnostic tools are suboptimal. In a previous multicenter study on 176 patients undergoing revision of a total hip arthroplasty due to presumed aseptic loosening, optimized diagnostics revealed that 4-13% of the patients had a low-grade infection. These infections were not treated as such, and in the current follow-up study the effect on mid- to long-term implant survival was investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were sent a 2-part questionnaire. Part A requested information about possible re-revisions of their total hip arthroplasty. Part B consisted of 3 patient-related outcome measure questionnaires (EQ5D, Oxford hip score, and visual analog scale for pain). Additional information was retrieved from the medical records. The group of patients found to have a low-grade infection was compared to those with aseptic loosening. RESULTS: 173 of 176 patients from the original study were included. In the follow-up time between the revision surgery and the current study (mean 7.5 years), 31 patients had died. No statistically significant difference in the number of re-revisions was found between the infection group (2 out of 21) and the aseptic loosening group (13 out of 152); nor was there any significant difference in the time to re-revision. Quality of life, function, and pain were similar between the groups, but only 99 (57%) of the patients returned part B. INTERPRETATION: Under-diagnosis of low-grade infection in conjunction with presumed aseptic revision of total hip arthroplasty may not affect implant survival.