Ch 47 Osteomyelitis and implant-infections Flashcards
Osteomyelitis
- inflammatory condition of bone, is usually considered to be caused by an infectious agent (bacteria, fungi, or viruses)
- Under normal physiologic conditions, bone is resistant to colonization and subsequent infection
- an inciting event must occur to lead to the development of osteomyelitis > Trauma, the implantation of foreign material (implants), inoculation with infectious organisms, and/or an immunocompromised patient
- osteomyelitis > classified as hematogenous or posttraumatic
Waldvogel staging system
based on the cause of the infection (hematogenous spread vs. direct inoculation or contiguous spread from soft tissues)
- acute osteomyelitis = infections that occur within days to weeks of the inciting event
- chronic = develop over months or years with key characteristics of low-grade inflammation, persistence of microorganisms, and the presence of sequestrum and fistulous tracts.40
treatment success influenced by three central factors
(1) viability and stability of the bone
(2) virulence and antimicrobial susceptibility of the organism
(3) condition of the soft tissue envelope
variables that can determine whether or not an infection develops (3)
The presence of virulence characteristics (i.e., different adhesins, production of toxins)
antimicrobial susceptibility patterns
propensity to form a biofilm
most common bacteria
Staphylococcus spp. (approximately 60% cases)
E.coli
Streptococcus
Polymicrobial infections > one retrospective study identifying mixed populations in 42% of cases
Staphylococcus intermedius as most common, whereas recent reports suggest S. pseudintermedius is more common
other bacteria
- in some cases methicillin-resistant strains represent close to 50% of the bacteria being isolated > reflects the outcomes of phylogenetic reclassification
- Gram-negative: Pasteurella, Pseudomonas, Proteus and Klebsiella
- Gram-positive: Corynebacterium spp, enterococci
- Anaerobic: Bacteroides, Nocardia, Clostridium, Actinomyces, Fusobacterium isolated from 64% of cases in one retrospective study
- Fungal:Blastomyces, Aspergillus, Candida, Coccidioides
Pathogenesis
- Posttraumatic/direct inoculation is thought to be the most common in dogs and cats.
- Hematogenous occur most frequently in young animals.
- Rarely, osteomyelitis the result of direct spread from an adjacent soft tissue infection.
Describe the pathogenesis of osteomyelitis
- Cytokines and growth factors are found in altered local concentrations during infection
- Normal osteoclast and osteoblast activity is influenced by cytokines/GF > Contribute to necrosis and resorption of the bone
- Leads to ischaemia due to collapse of vascular channels (Haversian, volksman and canaliculi)
- Segments of bone lacking an adequate blood supply have a propensity to form sequestra and offer a protected environment for bacterial organisms > presence of bone ischemia alone is enough
- At the edge of the ischemic bone is a reactive hyperaemia > increase in osteoclastic resorption > development of osteoporosis
How is the degree of periosteitis correlated with the aggressiveness of the infection
- osteoblastic production of new bone occurs secondary to periosteal irritation: The degree of periostitis correlated to the aggressiveness of the infection.
- less aggressive > slowly separates the periosteum from the bone, resulting in thickening of the cortex
- more aggressive > lamellar changes where layers of bone are laid down adjacent to one another
Posttraumatic Osteomyelitis
when microbial organisms are inoculated into areas adjacent to bone: penetrating wounds (FB, bite wound), spread from local soft tissue, or from surgical wounds i.e. implant
- bacterial-host interactions are complex and multifactorial, many variables if infection
- Host defense mechanisms (competent immune response) are critical in the prevention
>not every colonized implant result in infection
Competent host defence can be hampered by tissue trauma, (surgical or trauma) > vascular compromise and tissue ischemia
- tissue trauma is central in the development of posttraumatic osteomyelitis
- Data from human > tissue trauma may occur at the cellular level.
- Study:
inflammatory cells (neutrophils) collected from intraop lavage fluid. Analysis demonstrated that although activated, they were unable to clear the bacteria, presumably because of biofilm formation.
During activation and attempted phagocytosis of the bacteria within the biofilm, neutrophils release cytotoxic and proteolytic substances > contribute to tissue injury and osteolysis
osetomyelitis: patient and bacterial factors?
- patient factors:
presence of sepsis
systemic trauma
major organ dysfunction - bacterial characteristics:
virulence (i.e., different adhesins, production of toxins)
antimicrobial sensitivity patterns
biofilm
Dogs with pre-op TPLO nasal/rectal swabs which isolated methicillin resistant sS.Pseud were….
13-14 times more likely to develop a SSI cause by the rganism within 30 days
Implant-Associated Infections
- many have a nosocomial origin with some degree of antimicrobial resistance
- attributable to the presence of biofilms > more resistant to antimicrobial therapy compared to their free-floating, or planktonic, counterparts
- Implant-associated infections and osteomyelitis classified as deep or organ/space surgical site infection
- The presence of an implant +/- procedure performed for implant application can result in the development of osteomyelitis.
- trauma can lead to bone necrosis > predispose to bacterial colonization and biofilm formation within the necrotic bone.
most common sx site infection
- Recent studies document S. pseudintermedius as the predominant isolate associated with surgical site infections in dogs
- methicillin-resistant strains represent close to 50%
- nosocomial origin is supported by Nazarali et al
presence of implant
- implant is present > conditioning layer of proteins and polysaccharide molecules adsorbed to the implant surface develops
- bacterial adhesion can occur via fibronectin within the conditioning film and bacterial adhesins
- Successful treatment of an implant-associated infection is influenced by the presence or absence of a biofilm
bioflim
concept > was proposed by Costerton 1978
- a microbially derived sessile community
- cells are irreversibly attached
- are embedded in a matrix they have produced called glycocalyx, a slimy exopolysaccharide material.
- exhibit an altered phenotype: growth rate and gene transcription
The development dependent on bacterial, substrate, and host factors
- initiated by the reversible adherence of planktonic organisms
- complex molecular pathways and genetic regulation are responsible for biofilm formation.
» importance of quorum sensing, the ability of bacteria to coordinate gene expression based on population density by monitoring the concentration of autoinducers
- also important in the production of virulence factors (e.g., exotoxins).
- S. aureus interactions with receptors of innate immunity alter the bone remodelling activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts
quorum sensing,
the ability of bacteria to coordinate gene expression based on population density by monitoring the concentration of autoinducers
five main phases involved in the biofilm formation
reversible attachment,
irreversible attachment,
EPS production,
maturation of biofilm
dispersal/detachment
Biofilm documented advantages
tolerance to antibiotic therapy, and resistance to host defences, contribute to the high rate of treatment failure in osteomyelitis
- extracellular matrix > capture and concentrate nutrients required to survive.
- Growth within the matrix provides protection from:
shear stresses
host phagocytic activities
host protease and oxygen radical defenses - Resistance to antimicrobial therapy >genotypic and phenotypic alterations cause quiescent growth pattern.
- resistance is mediated through:
low metabolic levels
radically downregulated rates of cell division - antimicrobial agents rely on bacterial growth > efficacy is diminished
- extracellular matrix itself acts as a diffusion barrier to slow down the infiltration of some antimicrobial agents, leading to an increase in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of up to 100-fold in most cases
- changes to the microenvironment caues changes in hydration level, hypoxia, and lower pH
- protects bacteria from host defences (phagocytosis, reduce proinflammatory immune responses)
Hematogenous Osteomyelitis
- generally caused by a single bacterial species introduced via the bloodstream and localized to a distant site
- predominantly affecting young, whereby direct seeding of bone occurs during an episode of bacteremia.
- exact mechanism of hematogenous osteomyelitis is not clear, there are a number of theories.
- commonly affects the metaphyseal regions of long bones
- Unopposed infection in the metaphyseal region can spread However, transphyseal vessels are lacking at birth in dogs and cats, thus restricting the infection to the metaphyseal side of the physeal plate
proposed mechanisms (4)
for haematogenous osteo
- attributed to the anatomy > capillaries are characterized by an incomplete basement membrane > mechanism for bacterial translocation during bacteraemia, allowing the bacteria to localize in an area that is relatively inaccessible to the host inflammatory cells
- sluggish blood flow within the metaphyseal capillaries allows bacteria to settle and initiate colonization (not supported by any published data.)
- Alterations in the host immune response have also been implicated.
Experimental studies in mice > Staphylococcus aureus infection may alter the immune response via downregulation of T-cell immunity and immunocytokine production, thus increasing the severity of local osseous destruction - Minor trauma likely plays a role> In experimental studies involving model in rabbits> hematoma, resulting in vascular obstruction and bone necrosis, which creates an ideal site for bacterial colonization
post-truamatic: CS
- acute
Erythema, swelling, localized pain
A fever
systemic WBC elevated,
animal is systemically ill
Signs within a few days of the traumatic event and are often difficult to differentiate from a soft tissue/wound infection - Chronic
most have no systemic clinical signs, history of surgery/implant or other traumatic event.
new or worsening lameness
draining tracts are noted
post-truamatic: Dx rads
Radiographic evaluation
-variable.
- sensitivity 62.5% and specificity 57%
- Initial > soft tissue swelling
- cortical resorption, periosteal proliferation, and loss of trabecular markings.
- lucency around surgical implants
- involucrum = area of live, encasing bone that surrounds dead bone (sequestrum) within a compromised soft tissue envelope
- A nonviable piece of bone that has lost its blood supply is called a sequestrum (can be sterile or infected)
- draining tract develops from the radiolucent area of necrosis that surrounds the sequestrum and extends to the skin surface.
describe this
- A sharply marginated sclerotic piece of bone (sequestrum) surrounded by a radiolucent zone that separates it from the parent bone, both of which are surrounded by sclerotic bone (involucrum).
post-truamatic: Dx u/s
Ultrasonography
- detecting radiolucent foreign bodies (e.g., plant material) in soft tissues adjacent to an area of osteomyelitis
- detecting abscess formation
- evaluation of draining tracts that may be associated with a surgical implant.
post-truamatic: Dx CT/MRI
- (CT) and (MRI)
- useful in identifying sequestra and foreign material
- limited use in the presence of a metallic implant.
- positron emission tomography (PET), and nuclear scintigraphy (technetium-99m)
- intravenous administration of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles during MRI has shown potential for early detection of vertebral osteomyelitis.
post-truamatic: Dx C&S
- gold standard = positive microbial culture
- collected with care (representative and handled appropriately)
- percutaneous aspirates may deliver positive results, interpret with caution because contamination by surface bacteria
- Image-guided collection of samples is advised (needle biopsy)
- cytologic evaluation and Gram stain should be performed
- Aerobic and anaerobic of swabs
- during surgical (necrotic tissue or implant)
- Improvement in sensitivity implants > sonicated