Trends in microbiological epidemiology of orthopedic infections: a large retrospective study from 2008 to 2021

Abstract Background This study assessed the distribution characteristics of pathogens isolated from cases of orthopedic infections and focused on the antimicrobial susceptibility of the main pathogens. Methods This retrospective study involved patients with orthopedic infection in a tertiary medical center located in Shanghai, China, from 2008 to 2021.Pathogen information and the basic information of patients were identified from clinical microbiology laboratory data and the institutional medical record system. Results In total, the pathogen information of 2821 patients were enrolled in the study. S. aureus (37.71%) was the main causative pathogen responsible for orthopedic infection. Gender, pathogens distribution and polymicrobial infection rates were significantly different (P