title: Bacterial and Hematological Findings in Infected Total Hip Arthroplasties in Norway Assessment of 278 Revisions Due to Infection in the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register.
abstract: Our aim was to assess the bacterial findings in infected total hip arthroplasties (THAs) in Norway. We also wanted to investigate the relationship between causal bacteria and hematological findings. Revisions reported to the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register (NAR) due to infection after total hip arthroplasty during the period 1993 through September 2007 were identified. One single observer visited ten representative hospitals where clinical history, preoperative blood samples and the bacterial findings of intraoperative samples were collected. Bacterial growth in two or more samples was found in 278 revisions, and thus included. The following bacteria were identified: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (41%), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (19%), streptococci (11%), polymicrobial infections (10%), enterococci (9%), Gram-negative bacteria (6%) and others (4%). CoNS were the most common bacteria throughout the period but in the acute postoperative infections (< 3 weeks) S. aureus was the most frequent bacterial finding. We found no change in the distribution of the bacterial groups over time. S. aureus appears correlated with a higher C-reactive protein value (CRP) (mean 140 (95% Confidence interval (CI): 101-180)) than CoNS (mean 42 (CI: 31-53)). S. aureus also correlated with a higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate value (ESR) (mean 67 (CI: 55-79)) than CoNS (mean 47 (CI: 39-54)).
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Håkon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Langvatn
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway ; Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lutro
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway ; The Norwegian Arthroplasty Register, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Håvard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Johannes Cornelis
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Schrama
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Geir
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hallan
authors.affiliation: The Norwegian Arthroplasty Register, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Birgitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Espehaug
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway ; Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Haakon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sjursen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway ; The Norwegian Arthroplasty Register, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway ; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Lars B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Engesæter
keywords: Bacteriology; CRP; hematological findings; intraoperative bacterial samples; prosthetic joint infection; revision due to infection; staphylococci; total hip arthroplasty