We have explored the relationship of phenotypic (antibiogram, β-haemolysis, agr functionality, biofilm formation) and genotypic characteristics on the prognosis of 18 cases of methicillin-resistant S. aureus prosthetic joint infection (2005-2015). All isolates belonged to CC5, and had agr type II. This pilot study suggests that phage-borne genes belonging to the immune evasion cluster (chp, sak and scn) were more frequent among episodes with treatment failure (80.0 vs. 37.5%).
Keywords: Biofilms; Bone infections; DAIR; Joint infections; MRSA.