Efficacy of Antibiotic Bone Cement in the Treatment of Burkholderia cepacia Infection After Spinal Internal Fixation Surgery: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

In recent years, the number of spinal internal fixation operations has increased significantly, correlating with an elevated risk of postoperative surgical site infection and a rising incidence rate. While the conventional treatment approach involves surgical debridement combined with antibiotic administration, there is a notable gap in reported strategies for Burkholderia cepacia infection and patients exhibiting multidrug resistance. Surgical site infection occurred in a patient following internal fixation surgery for thoracic vertebral fractures. Despite the application of systemic antibiotics and regular dressing changes, no improvement was observed. Bacterial culture and drug sensitivity experiments revealed a multidrug-resistant Burkholderia cepacia infection. Two comprehensive debridement procedures were performed along with continuous post-operative irrigation combined with antibiotic administration; however, no significant improvement was observed. The patient's infection was significantly controlled following treatment with vancomycin loaded bone cement. Following spinal internal fixation surgery, the management of a B.cepacian infection with multidrug resistance presented a significant challenge, despite the application of debridement procedures and systemic antibiotics. In this case, after 20days of treatment with vancomycin-loaded bone cement, the patient's C-reactive protein level decreased to 54mg/L, was normalized by February, and normal levels were maintained in the surgical area 1month and 6months after bone cement removal. The use of vancomycin-loaded bone cement proves effective in treating postoperative B.cepacian infection in a multidrug-resistant case following spinal internal fixation surgery.