Multiple hypervirulent methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus lineages contribute towards poor patient outcomes in orthopedic device-related infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a prominent cause of orthopedic device-associated infections, yet little is known about how the infecting pathogen, and specifically the repertoire ofwith its range of genome-encoded virulence factors, that can impact treatment outcome. Past studies have focused on distinguishing commensal from invasive S. aureus isolates but in this study we aim to investigate traits in infecting isolates that influence patient outcomes. Invasive S. aureus isolates were collected from orthopedic-device related infection patients and categorized according to the success of subsequent treatment ("cured" /"not cured"), as determined following hospital discharge two years after initial presentation. Several MSSA hypervirulent clones were associated with a "not cured" clinical outcome. Improved understanding of the bacterial traits associated with treatment failure in ODRI will inform the risk assessment, prognosis, and therapy of these infections.