title: Surgical wound infection by mannitol-nonfermenting Staphylococcus aureus after lumbar microdiscectomy.
abstract: Purulent infection of a surgical wound developed after discectomy, and a mannitol-nonfermenting Staphylococcus aureus isolate was cultivated as the etiologic agent. Nonfermenting S. aureus strains are exceedingly rare and may be erroneously mistaken and dismissed as contaminants. This report then emphasizes that pure and massive cultures must be carefully evaluated, even if preliminary examination does not suggest a pathogenic organism. Also, although mannitol-negative, the studied strain was correctly detected as S. aureus by both the-FISH test (AdvanDx, USA) and the Liofilchem 'Chromatic Staph aureus', highlighting that additional diagnostic methods may support recognition of uncommon, nonfermenting S. aureus strains in the daily practice.
authors: Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Spirito Santo Hospital Pescara (PE), Italy.
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Savini
authors: Neurosurgery, Spirito Santo Hospital Pescara (PE), Italy.
authors: Raffaele
authors: R
authors: Nigro
authors: Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Spirito Santo Hospital Pescara (PE), Italy.
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Marrollo
authors: Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Spirito Santo Hospital Pescara (PE), Italy.
authors: Ennio
authors: E
authors: Polilli
authors: Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Spirito Santo Hospital Pescara (PE), Italy.
authors: Irma
authors: I
authors: Campitelli
authors: Neurosurgery, Spirito Santo Hospital Pescara (PE), Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Buonaguidi
authors: Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Spirito Santo Hospital Pescara (PE), Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Fazii
authors: Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, IRCCS Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova Reggio Emilia (RE), Italy.
authors: Edoardo
authors: E
authors: Carretto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005285:Fermentation; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol / Q000378:metabolism*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008353:Mannitol
keywords: Mannitol; Staphylococcus aureus; surgical wound