Staphylococcus aureus-Associated Musculoskeletal Infections

Abstract

Musculoskeletal infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus are among the most difficult-to-treat infections. S. aureus osteomyelitis is associated with a tremendous disease burden through potential for long-term relapses and functional deficits. Although considerable advances have been achieved in diagnosis and treatment of osteomyelitis, the management remains challenging and impact on quality of life is still enormous. S. aureus acute arthritis is relatively seldom in general population, but the incidence is considerably higher in patients with predisposing conditions, particularly those with rheumatoid arthritis. Rapidly destructive course with high mortality and disability rates makes urgent diagnosis and treatment of acute arthritis essential. S. aureus pyomyositis is a common disease in tropical countries, but it is very seldom in temperate regions. Nevertheless, the cases have been increasingly reported also in non-tropical countries, and the physicians should be able to timely recognize this uncommon condition and initiate appropriate treatment. The optimal management of S. aureus-associated musculoskeletal infections requires a strong interdisciplinary collaboration between all involved specialists.

Cell differentiation defines acute and chronic infection cell types in Staphylococcus aureus

“…In contrast, BRcells were more prevalent in tissues with high Mg 2+ concentrations (bone, kidney) and bacteria organized in microbial aggregates characteristic of biofilm-associated infections. The results recapitulate clinical studies in which a marked number of biofilm-associated persistent infections develop in urinary tract and bone, usually following surgery or catheterization ( Muder et al, 2006 ; Brady et al, 2008 ; Flores-Mireles et al, 2015 ; Idelevich et al, 2016 ). These data help to understand how nosocomial pathogens such as S. aureus can simultaneously cause dissimilar types of infections in distinct organs, and show that cell differentiation in nosocomial pathogens is particularly relevant for adaptation to different host tissues.…”

Identification of Extracellular DNA-Binding Proteins in the Biofilm Matrix

“…The capacity to form a biofilm is of fundamental importance in the ability of bacteria to cause chronic wounds, to infect indwelling medical devices, and to cause severe, invasive diseases, such as osteomyelitis and endocarditis. The opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is particularly adept at forming biofilms, making it the most commonly identified bacterial species in chronic wounds (1–3), the leading cause of infective endocarditis (4, 5), the second most common causative agent in periprosthetic orthopedic infections (6), and the most common cause of osteomyelitis (7). Once attached to an implanted device or host tissue and growing within the extracellular matrix (ECM) of a biofilm, S.…”

In Vitro Susceptibility of Clinical Staphylococcus aureus Small-Colony Variants to β-Lactam and Non-β-Lactam Antibiotics

“…The SCV phenotype is characterized by an altered metabolism as an adaptation to their intracellular lifestyle (3)(4)(5). ␤-Lactam antibiotics (BLAs), especially penicillinase-stable penicillins or first-and second-generation cephalosporins, are antimicrobials of choice for the treatment of severe S. aureus infections unless methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is involved (6). Most of the data on the susceptibility of S. aureus SCVs toward ␤-lactams and other antibiotics have been derived from studies performed with deletion mutants mimicking the SCV phenotype or SCV isolates colonizing the airways of cystic fibrosis patients (7)(8)(9).…”