title: Infections in the operated spine: update on risk management and therapeutic strategies.
abstract: Among the possible risks of spine surgery, surgical site infection (SSI) is far from negligible. Incidence is higher than in other locomotor system procedures, with more severe local and general impact. Certain broad guidelines can be formulated. The risk of SSI should be taken into account in the choice of treatment options discussed with the patient. Antibiotic prophylaxis, surgical prevention of iatrogenic infection and an SSI surveillance protocol should be implemented. SSI should be suspected in case of any abnormality in postoperative course, and biological and imaging (MRI or CT) measures should be taken. Local sampling for bacteriological identification is mandatory. Treatment strategy should ideally be discussed in a multidisciplinary coordination meeting, and adapted in the light of local bacterial ecology and resistance data. The information provided to the patient should be transparent and adapted to the patient's individual context.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level V.
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologie, groupe hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, 47, boulevard de l'hôpital, 75013 Paris cedex, France. lazennec.jy@wanadoo.fr
authors.forename: J-Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lazennec
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fourniols
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenoir
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aubry
authors.forename: M-L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pissonnier
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Issartel
authors.forename: M-A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rousseau
mesh_terms: D017586:Diskectomy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D012308:Risk Management; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization