Table 1

Culture-positive surgical site infections following thoracolumbar spine surgery with drain placement

OrganismDepth of infectionTiming of InfectionAntibiotic Treatment RouteRevision Performed?Incision and Drainage Performed?
MSSASuperficialDelayedIVNoNo
MSSADeepAcute & DelayedPO & IVNoYes
MRSADeepAcutePO & IVNoYes
MRSADeepDelayedPO & IVNoYes
CNSSuperficialAcutePO & IVNoNo
CNSSuperficialAcutePONoNo
CNSSuperficialAcutePO & IVNoYes
Propionibacterium acnesSuperficialAcutePONoNo
Propionibacterium acnesSuperficialAcute & DelayedPONoYes
Escherichia coliSuperficialAcutePONoYes
Escherichia coliDeepAcuteIVNoYes
EnterococcusSuperficialAcutePO & IVNoYes
EnterobacterSuperficialAcutePO & IVNoYes
KlebsiellaSuperficial and DeepAcuteIVNoYes
Polymicrobial + CNSDeepAcutePO & IVNoYes
Polymicrobial + EnterococcusSuperficialAcutePO & IVNoYes
Enterococcus + Candida albicansDeepAcuteIVNoYes
Gram-negative rods + Klebsiella + EnterococcusSuperficialDelayedPO & IVNoNo
Klebsiella + CNSSuperficialDelayedPOYesNo
Pseudomonas + CNSSuperficialDelayedIVNoNo
  • MSSA = Methicilin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus; MRSA = Methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; CNS = Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus; Acute = within 30 days of surgery; Delayed = after 30 days following surgery; Acute & Delayed = one acute infection + one delayed infection in the same patient; IV = intravenous; PO = by mouth.