Commonly Encountered Skin Biome-Derived Pathogens after Orthopedic Surgery

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Surgical Infections

Background:

• Normal skin microbiota play a crucial role in determining susceptibility to surgical infections.
• Bacterial distribution varies significantly across different anatomic sites.
• Opportunistic pathogens can arise from common skin flora under specific conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review commonly encountered skin bacteria and their isolation from surgical incisions.
• To correlate bacterial distribution with specific body regions and surgical sites.
• To provide data for optimizing targeted antibiotic therapy for surgical site infections.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of studies on skin microbiota and surgical site infections.
• Analysis of bacterial isolation data from operative incisions across various anatomic locations.
• Examination of typical skin-borne flora, orthopedic infections, and drug-resistant pathogens.

Main Results:

• Identification of prevalent bacteria at different body sites and their association with surgical incisions.
• Demonstration of site-specific variations in skin biome distribution.
• Highlighting the potential for common skin bacteria to act as opportunistic pathogens.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the skin biome at specific surgical sites is essential for infection control.
• Data on bacterial distribution can inform the development of targeted antibiotic prophylaxis.
• This review aids in comprehending the etiology of surgical site infections and managing drug-resistant pathogens.