Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

A High-throughput, High-content, Liquid-based C. elegans Pathosystem
09:44

A High-throughput, High-content, Liquid-based C. elegans Pathosystem

Published on: July 1, 2018

[The current pathogen spectrum--what are we fighting against?]

S Scheithauer1, H Häfner, S W Lemmen

  • 1Zentralbereich für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektiologie, Universitätsklinikum Aachen (RWTH), Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Deutschland.

Der Orthopade
|January 26, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are primarily caused by endogenous bacteria, with Gram-positive pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus dominating orthopedic surgery. The rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria, including MRSA, poses a growing threat to SSI treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Surgical Infections

Context:

  • Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a significant concern in healthcare settings.
  • Endogenous bacteria from the patient's skin or gut flora are the primary cause of SSIs.
  • Orthopedic and trauma surgery frequently involve Gram-positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, as causative agents.

Purpose:

  • To review the spectrum of pathogens causing surgical site infections.
  • To highlight the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms in SSIs.
  • To discuss the evolving landscape of bacterial pathogens implicated in SSIs.

Summary:

  • Gram-positive bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus, are the main pathogens in SSIs, particularly in orthopedic surgery.
  • Coagulase-negative staphylococci are important in foreign body infections.
  • The spectrum of SSI pathogens is expanding due to advanced detection methods, with a notable increase in multidrug-resistant bacteria like MRSA, VRE, and carbapenemase-producing enterobacteria.

Impact:

  • Understanding the changing microbial landscape of SSIs is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies.
  • The emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms necessitates updated clinical guidelines and therapeutic approaches.
  • This review emphasizes the need for continuous surveillance and research into novel antimicrobial interventions for SSIs.

More Related Videos

Application of I TASSER, trRosetta, UCSF Chimera, HADDOCK server, and HEX loria for De Novo and In Silico Design of Proteins05:08

Application of I TASSER, trRosetta, UCSF Chimera, HADDOCK server, and HEX loria for De Novo and In Silico Design of Proteins

Published on: July 8, 2025

Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry08:51

Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry

Published on: September 15, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Infection01:20

Infection

When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

Colonisation of Pathogens

Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Reservoir of Infection01:30

Reservoir of Infection

Infectious diseases arise from intricate interactions between pathogens and their reservoirs. A reservoir of infection refers to the natural habitat where a pathogen lives, grows, and multiplies, serving as a continual source of infection. Reservoirs are broadly classified as either living or nonliving, and each plays a unique role in disease transmission, significantly influencing public health interventions and control strategies.Humans act as reservoirs for a wide array of pathogens,...
Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence01:28

Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence

Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...