title: Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of Staphylococcus epidermidis causing chronic relapsing prosthetic joint infections.
abstract: Twenty-one isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis from 9 patients with persistent prosthetic joint infections were analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and antibiotic susceptibility assays. In 7 of these cases, the S. epidermidis isolate was different from that of the initial episode. In 1 further case, the superinfection was polyclonal. Recurrence, i.e., renewed isolation of a clone identical to that of an initial episode, occurred in 3 cases, 1 of which was in the absence of superinfection. A high degree of antibiotic resistance was demonstrated, including methicillin in 17 of 21 strains. In conclusion, a frequent occurrence of superinfection and a high degree of resistance make management of these infections complex.
authors.affiliation: Service de Bactériologie-Hygiène, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corvec
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crémet
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guillouzouic
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marraillac
authors.forename: Marie-Emmanuelle
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Juvin
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Touchais
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asseray
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boutoille
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reynaud
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bémer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015163:Superinfection / Q000382:microbiology