AB146. SOH25_AB_348. Spinal infections at Mater Misericordiae Hospital: a three-year retrospective analysis
Orthopaedic Session II

AB146. SOH25_AB_348. Spinal infections at Mater Misericordiae Hospital: a three-year retrospective analysis

Abobaker Younis

Department of Orthopaedics, Galway University Hospital, Galway, Ireland

Background: Spinal infections represent a significant clinical challenge due to their varied presentation and potential for severe complications. This study aims to evaluate patient characteristics, risk factors, treatment strategies, and outcomes in spinal infections treated at the spinal unit at Mater Misericordiae Hospital.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 31 patients treated for spinal infections between July 2017 and February 2020. Data collected included demographics, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, microbiological results, imaging, treatment modalities, and outcomes. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient characteristics and treatment outcomes.

Results: Of the 31 patients, 20 were male and 11 were female, with a mean age of 68.9 years. Common risk factors included pre-existing non-spinal infections (52%), diabetes (29%), and recent spinal procedures (13%). Presenting symptoms were predominantly back/neck pain (90%) and neurological impairment (81%). Elevated C-reactive protein was noted in all patients, while 39% had elevated white cell counts. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently identified pathogen (32%). Sixteen percent of patients were managed conservatively with antibiotics alone, while 84% underwent surgical intervention. The average hospital length of stay was 25.2 days, ranging from 4 to 104 days. Thirteen patients (42%) received outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT).

Conclusions: Spinal infections require an individualized approach for optimal management. Surgical intervention was necessary for the majority of patients, with targeted antibiotic therapy playing a crucial role in treatment. Early diagnosis, combined with appropriate medical and surgical management, is key to improving patient outcomes in spinal infections.

Keywords: Antibiotic therapy; epidemiology; tertiary hospital; outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT); spinal infections

Acknowledgments

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Footnote

Funding: None.

Conflicts of Interest: The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The author is accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

doi: 10.21037/map-25-ab146
Cite this abstract as: Younis A. AB146. SOH25_AB_348. Spinal infections at Mater Misericordiae Hospital: a three-year retrospective analysis. Mesentery Peritoneum 2025;9:AB146.

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