At the Musculoskeletal Infection Society Annual Open Scientific Meeting, Orthopedics Today interviewed HSS internist Andy O. Miller, MD, about his presentation on Staphylococcus aureus carriage rates in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. Miller explained that Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of surgical site infections, and conducted a study to identify groups who are most at risk.

After comparing cotton swab samples from patients in orthopedic and rheumatologic waiting rooms, Dr. Miller found that "patients who are on biologic agents for rheumatoid arthritis are substantially and significantly more likely to have staphylococcus skin carriage and therefore more likely to be at risk for surgical site infections".

"We think it's significant because now we can identify that group as a group that may be at higher risk of getting surgical site infections and we can do things to try to minimize that risk," Dr. Miller added.

Watch the full interview at healio.com [registration required].