Researchers examined 7,529 operative spine cases performed over a five year period and identified 239 cases with SSI. The most common SSI was Staphylococcus aureus, at 45.2 percent, followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis at 31.4 percent. Additional findings include:
• Methicillin-resistant organisms accounted for 34.3 percent of the SSIs.
• Methicillin-resistant organisms were more common in revision than primary procedures.
• Gram-negative organisms were identified in 30.5 percent of the cases.
• Procedures involving the sacrum were significantly associated with gram-negative organisms and polymicrobial infections.
• Among cervical spine procedures gram-negative organisms and Enterococcus spp were less common.
• Cefazolin-resistant gram-negative organisms accounted for 61.6 percent of all gram-negative infections.
• Cefazolin-resistant gram-negative organisms accounted for 18.8 percent of all SSIs.
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