Bone and joint infections (BJI), including septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and orthopedic device-related infections (ODI), constitute difficult-to-treat clinical entities, as they chronically evolve and frequently cause a relapse in infection (1-4). Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of BJI, accounting for approximately 50% of cases, and it is particularly associated with treatment failure due to its various virulence factors, including its great ability to form biofilms (5-7). These concerns have led to the recommendation of a prolonged antimicrobial course in S. aureus BJI, frequently in combination to avoid the acquisition of drug resistance, with initial administration via the intravenous route and at a high dosage (8-10). It is well known that the prolonged use of antimicrobial combinations is associated with an increased toxicity risk (11), but only limited and conflicting data are found in the literature concerning the prevalence and predictive factors of antimicrobial-related adverse events (AE) occurring during the treatment of BJI. A recent meta-analysis concluded that the incidences of AE are 16.1% for mild AE and 7.7% for moderate and severe AE (12), but some studies found the incidence of AE can reach rates as high as 50% of the patients (13,14). We aimed to describe the occurrence of and risk factors for antimicrobial-related AE in a retrospective cohort study that included patients admitted to a regional reference center with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) BJI.
MATERIALS AND METHODSEthics statements. This study received the approval of the French SouthEast ethics committee with the reference number CAL2011-021. In accordance with French legislation, written informed patient consent was not required for any part of the study.Inclusion criteria and data collection. All patients with MSSA BJI who followed up in our institution between 2001 and 2011 were enrolled in a retrospective cohort study. Patients with diabetic foot-and decubitus ulcer-related BJI were excluded because of the particular pathophysiology proceeded by contiguity with bone exposition and implicating diabetesassociated vascular disease and peripheral neuropathy, leading to a specific management of these infections. For each patient, data were collected from medical records, nursing charts, and biological software in an anonymous standardized case report form.Definitions. BJI diagnosis was based upon the existence of clinical and biological evidences of infection and at least one reliable bacteriological