Twenty-Year Trends in Upper-Extremity Infections at a Single Urban Institution

PURPOSE: Empiric antibiotic therapy for hand and upper-extremity infections aims to cover the most common causative organisms, which may change over time. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the bacterial profile of upper-extremity infections over 2 decades at our institution. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with upper-extremity infections treated at a single level 1 trauma center between 2001 and 2019. Patients older than 18 years who underwent surgical treatment for infection with operative cultures available were included. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and culture results were reviewed. Then, the distribution of organisms was analyzed for overall prevalence, and the profile of 2001–2010 was compared with that of 2010–2019 using a chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 237 patients (mean age, 43 years) met the criteria and were included in the study. Over the entire study period, the most isolated organism was Staphylococcus aureus, specifically the methicillin-resistant species. Methicillin-resistant S aureus remained the most common organism in both decades but declined over time from 47% in 2001–2010 to 27% in 2010–2019 (P < .05). There was a significant increase in the proportion of Streptococcus infections (from 6% to 17%; P < .05) and in polymicrobial infections (aerobic 8% to 28%, anaerobic 0% to 14%; P < .05). Enterobacter species were not isolated in 2001–2010 but comprised 13% of infections in the second decade (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Methicillin-resistant S aureus remains the most common organism isolated from upper-extremity infections, though there has been a decline over the last 20 years. Conversely, Streptococcal spp., Enterobacter spp. and polymicrobial infections have increased. This study demonstrates longitudinal shifts in the distribution of bacteria responsible for upper-extremity infections at our institution, and these trends can be considered when choosing future empiric therapy. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic IV.