Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pin tract infections: an increasing problem in external fixation

Abstract

In a retrospective review of 117 patients who had external fixation applied in 1998, pin tract infection was found in 36 (31 %). The infection rate for the tibia, the most common site of external fixation, was 36%. Of the 36 cases, 22 were grade I, one grade II and 13 grade III infections. External fixation was discontinued in 61% of those infected. Cultures from the infected pin sites were taken in only 14 cases. Of these, 6 had mixed growth and all the remaining 8 cultures grew methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. These findings suggest that pin tract infection is still a problem in the use of external fixation, and the development of methicillin resistant S. aureus is likely to add to this problem. Microbiological investigations of the infected pin sites must be mandatory in all cases of pin tract infection and the antibiotic policy of all the units needs to be reviewed to overcome this problem.