Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational
Official Title: Biofilm Formation Increases Treatment Failure in Staphylococcus Epidermidis Device-related Osteomyelitis in Human Patients
Brief Summary:
This was a prospective study performed between November 2011 and September 2013. Patients with a confirmed S. epidermidis infection after fracture fixation or prosthetic joint infection were included. Exclusion criteria included infections involving external fixation pins, infections without any implanted hardware and culture positive patients not displaying any clinical sign of infection. The following surgical parameters were documented: affected bone or joint; type of implant; time between implantation of the device and onset of symptoms. Personal characteristics and patients`health status were also documented. Any revision surgeries involving the site of interest and all isolated pathogens were recorded throughout the course of treatment and follow-up.
A follow up examination was performed an average of 26 months after discharge. Primary outcome at follow up was cure. Cure was define by the authors as: missing local (at site of interest) or systemic signs of infection, terminated surgical and systemic therapy and restoration of joint or limb function.
At the first surgical procedure after enrolment, at least four deep bone biopsies were taken from the interface between implant and affected bone. Identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing of all growth was performed. Multi-drug-resistance (MDR) was defined according to the definitions of the European Committee of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST). Biofilm formation was analysed and quantified in microtitre plate assays according to protocol of Stepanovic et al.(see references).