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Abstract Background The optimal duration and choice of antibiotic for fracture-related infection (FRI) is not well defined. This study aimed to determine whether antibiotic duration (≤6 vs 6 weeks) is associated with infection- and surgery-free survival. The secondary aim was to ascertain risk factors associated with surgery- and infection-free survival. Methods We performed a multicenter retrospective study of patients diagnosed with FRI between 2013 and 2022. The association between antibiotic duration and surgery- and infection-free survival was assessed by Cox proportional hazard models. Models were weighted by the inverse of the propensity score, calculated with a priori variables of hardware removal; infection due to Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus lugdunensis, Pseudomonas or Candida species; and flap coverage. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were run with additional covariates including initial pathogen, need for flap, and hardware removal. Results Of 96 patients, 54 (56.3%) received ≤6 weeks of antibiotics and 42 (43.7%) received 6 weeks. There was no association between longer antibiotic duration and surgery-free survival (hazard ratio HR, 0.95; 95% CI, .65–1.38; P = .78) or infection-free survival (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, .30–1.96; P = .58). Negative culture was associated with increased hazard of reoperation or death (HR, 3.52; 95% CI, 1.99–6.20; P .001) and reinfection or death (HR, 3.71; 95% CI, 1.24–11.09; P .001). Need for flap coverage had an increased hazard of reoperation or death (HR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.61–6.54; P = .001). Conclusions The ideal duration of antibiotics to treat FRI is unclear. In this multicenter study, there was no association between antibiotic treatment duration and surgery- or infection-free survival.
Seidelman et al. (Mon,) studied this question.