Table 2. Questions administered to participants regarding acute, as well as recurrent/ongoing infections with management options and responses.

Questions	Acute thoracolumbar infections, percentage [N]	Ongoing or recurrent thoracolumbar infections, percentage [N]
At what point do you consider a post-operative thoracolumbar infection chronic, rather than acute?		–
>3 weeks	7.5 [3]
>6 weeks	32.5 [13]
>9 weeks	7.5 [3]
>12 weeks	52.5 [21]
What is your primary method of irrigation		–
Gravity/manual pouring	61.0 [25]
Power/pulse lavage	26.8 [11]
Manual bulb syringe	12.2 [5]
Other	0.00 [0]
What is the main solution used for irrigation?
Normal saline	48.8 [20]	50.0 [20]
Bacitracin	39.0 [16]	37.5 [15]
Other	12.2 [5]	12.5 [5]
Do you routinely use other agents (check all that apply)		–
Proviodine	55.9 [19]
Peroxide	52.9 [18]
Chlorhexidine	5.9 [2]
Bleach/Dakin solution	0.0 [0]
Other	0.0 [0]
How many litres of solution would you routinely utilize for irrigation?
<3.1 L	26.8 [11]	27.5 [11]
3.1–6.0 L	43.9 [18]	32.5 [13]
6.1–9.0 L	24.4 [10]	30.0 [12]
>9.0 L	4.9 [2]	10.0 [4]
Do you remove posterolateral bone graft?
Yes, allograft only	4.9 [2]	0.0 [0]
Yes, all bone graft	31.7 [13]	53.7 [22]
Retain all posterolateral graft	9.8 [4]	4.9 [2]
Only loose graft is removed	53.7 [22]	41.5 [17]
If yes, bone graft is removed, what is your subsequent management?
Place new autograft at time of washout	10.3 [4]	7.9 [3]
Place new allograft at time of washout	7.7 [3]	5.3 [2]
Return for grafting once infection is cleared	10.3 [4]	15.8 [6]
Return for grafting only if the patient becomes:	51.3 [20]	48.7 [19]
Symptomatic with pseudarthrosis or loose
Hardware
Do not place new graft in any circumstance	20.5 [8]	23.1 [9]
Assuming the hardware is stable (not loose) and in satisfactory position, how do you manage hardware?
Retain all hardware	80.4 [33]	35.0 [14]
Exchange set screws/rods	14.6 [6]	17.5 [7]
Exchange all hardware	0.0 [0]	47.5 [19]
Other	5.0 [2]	0.0 [0]
In the past year, have you considered a partial hardware exchange (e.g., set screws and rods) for an acute infection?		–
Yes	41.5 [17]
No	58.5 [24]
If there is an interbody fusion, do you
Retain cages/interbody graft	92.7 [38]	72.5 [29]
Remove and exchange cages/interbody graft	0.0 [0]	10.0 [4]
Remove cages/interbody graft all together	0.0 [0]	5.0 [2]
Other	7.3 [3]	12.5 [5]
Do you use topical antibiotics prior to closure?
Topical glycopeptides (e.g., vancomycin powder)	58.5 [24]	65.0 [26]
Topical aminoglycoside (e.g., tobramycin powder or pellets)	2.4 [1]	15.0 [6]
No topical antibiotics	26.8 [11]	12.5 [5]
Other	12.2 [5]	7.5 [3]
What suture material do you use to close fascia?
Braided absorbable (e.g., vicryl)	63.4 [26]	62.5 [25]
Braided nonabsorbable (e.g., Ticron)	2.4 [1]	2.5 [1]
Monofilament absorbable (e.g., monocryl)	19.5 [8]	25.0 [10]
Monofilament nonabsorbable (e.g., prolene, nylon)	14.6 [6]	10.0 [4]
What suture material do you use to close skin?
Braided absorbable (e.g., vicryl)	2.4 [1]	2.5 [1]
Braided nonabsorbable (e.g., Silk)	0.0 [0]	0.0 [0]
Monofilament absorbable (e.g., monocryl)	12.2 [5]	12.5 [5]
Monofilament nonabsorbable (e.g., prolene, nylon)	51.2 [21]	60. [24]
Staples	34.1 [14]	25. [10]
Do you routinely utilize an incisional vacuum dressing after irrigation and debridement?		–
Yes	39.0 [16]
No	61.0 [25]
How long do you routinely recommend antibiotics after the diagnosis of infection (with instrumentation)?
<6 weeks	2.4 [1]		0.0 [0]
6 weeks	46.3 [19]		10.0 [4]
3 months	31.7 [13]		20.0 [8]
>3 months	4.9 [2]		40.0 [16]
Other time period (please specify)	14.6 [6]		22.5 [9]
Lifelong	N/A		7.5 [3]
If a patient has had a decompression only (no hardware), please indicate your recommended duration of antibiotics			–
<6 weeks	41.5 [17]
6 weeks	53.7 [22]
3 months	4.9 [2]
>3 months	0.0 [0]
Are there any circumstances in which a patient with an acute post-operative surgical site infection would be recommended life-long suppressive antibiotics?			–
Yes	46.3 [19]
No	53.7 [22]