Non-cefazolin antibiotic prophylaxis is associated with higher rates of elbow periprosthetic joint infection.

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a common source of failure following elbow arthroplasty. Perioperative prophylactic antibiotics are considered standard of care. However, there are no data regarding the comparative efficacy of various antibiotics in the prevention of PJI for elbow arthroplasty. Previous studies in shoulder, hip, and knee arthroplasty have demonstrated higher rates of PJI with administration of non-cefazolin antibiotics. The elbow has higher rates of PJI than other joints. Therefore, this study evaluated whether perioperative antibiotic choice affects rates of PJI in elbow arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-institution, prospectively collected total joint registry database was queried to identify patients who underwent primary elbow arthroplasty between 2003 and 2021. Elbows with known infection prior to arthroplasty (25) and procedures with incomplete perioperative antibiotic data (7) were excluded, for a final sample size of 603 total elbow arthroplasties and 19 distal humerus hemiarthroplasties. Cefazolin was administered in 561 elbows (90%) and non-cefazolin antibiotics including vancomycin (32 elbows, 5%), clindamycin (27 elbows, 4%), and piperacillin/tazobactam (2 elbows, 0.3%) were administered in the remaining 61 elbows (10%). Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the association between the antibiotic administered and the development of PJI. Infection-free survivorship was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Deep infection occurred in 47 elbows (7.5%), and 16 elbows (2.5%) were diagnosed with superficial infections. Univariate analysis demonstrated that patients receiving non-cefazolin alternatives were at significantly higher risk for any infection (hazard ratio [HR] 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-5.0; P < .01) and deep infection (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3-5.5; P < .01) compared with cefazolin administration. Multivariable analysis, controlling for several independent predictors of PJI (tobacco use, male sex, surgical indication other than osteoarthritis, and American Society of Anesthesiologists score), showed that non-cefazolin administration had a higher risk for any infection (HR 2.8, 95% CI 1.4-5.3; P < .01) and deep infection (HR 2.9, 95% CI 1.3-6.3; P < .01). Survivorship free of infection was significantly higher at all time points for the cefazolin cohort. DISCUSSION: In primary elbow arthroplasty, cefazolin administration was associated with significantly lower rates of PJI compared to non-cefazolin antibiotics, even in patients with a greater number of prior surgeries, which is known to increase the risk of PJI. For patients with penicillin or cephalosporin allergies, preoperative allergy testing or a cefazolin test dose should be considered before administering non-cefazolin alternatives.

ESSKA and EBJIS recommendations for the management of infections after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R): prevention, surgical treatment and rehabilitation.

PURPOSE: Infection after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) is a rare but severe complication. Despite an increase in articles published on this topic over the last decade, solid data to optimized diagnostic and therapeutic measures are scarce. For this reason, the European Bone and Joint Infection Society (EBJIS) and the European Society for Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA) collaborated in order to develop recommendations for the diagnosis and management of infections after ACL-R. The aim of the workgroup was to perform a review of the literature and provide practical guidance to healthcare professionals involved in the management of infections after ACL-R. METHODS: An international workgroup was recruited to provide recommendations for predefined clinical dilemmas regarding the management of infections after ACL-R. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases were searched for evidence to support the recommended answers to each dilemma. RESULTS: The recommendations were divided into two articles. The first covers etiology, prevention, diagnosis and antimicrobial treatment of septic arthritis following ACL-R and is primarily aimed at infectious disease specialists. This article includes the second part of the recommendations and covers prevention of infections after ACL-R, surgical treatment of septic arthritis following ACL-R and subsequent postoperative rehabilitation. It is aimed not only at orthopedic surgeons, but at all healthcare professionals dealing with patients suffering from infections after ACL-R. CONCLUSION: These recommendations guide clinicians in achieving timely and accurate diagnosis as well as providing optimal management, both of which are paramount to prevent loss of function and other devastating sequelae of infection in the knee joint. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V.

Documented Penicillin Allergies Should Not Preclude Use of Preoperative Cefazolin in Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Perioperative cefazolin administration for total joint arthroplasty is a first-line antibiotic recommended by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) guidelines for the prevention of periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs). We aim to analyze the clinical viability of giving patients with a documented penicillin allergy (PA) a perioperative full-strength cefazolin "test dose" under anesthesia. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review of 2,451 total joint arthroplasties from a high-volume arthroplasty orthopaedic surgeon over a 5-year period from January 2013 through December 2017. This surgeon routinely gave patients with a documented PA a full-strength cefazolin test dose while under anesthesia instead of administrating a second-line antibiotic. The primary outcomes examined were allergic reaction and postoperative infection. RESULTS: Cefazolin was given to 87.1% of all patients (1,990) and 46.0% of patients with a PA (143). The total rate of allergic reactions among all patients was 0.5% (11). Only one patient with a documented PA who received cefazolin had an allergic reaction. The reaction was not severe and did not require any additional treatment. In patients who had no reported allergies and received cefazolin, 0.3% (6) had an allergic reaction. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of allergic reaction when comparing patients with and without a PA (P = 0.95). Patients receiving cefazolin had an overall PJI rate of 2.9% (57) versus those patients receiving antibiotics other than cefazolin who sustained a 5.5% PJI rate (16), which was statistically significant (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: This study found that utilization of a full-strength test dose of cefazolin in patients with a documented PA is a feasible, safe, and effective way of increasing the rate of cefazolin administration and thus mitigating the risk of PJIs.

Postoperative Infection After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Prevention and Management.

Because septic arthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is an uncommon complication, information on prevention strategies has not been extensively studied. Recommendations that can be made from the available evidence are as follows: (1) prophylactic intravenous antibiotics should be given preoperatively; (2) patellar tendon autograft use decreases the possibility of a postoperative infection; and (3) vancomycin presoaking of grafts is strongly recommended, especially when performing hamstring autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. When septic arthritis presents after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, early management is crucial to allow a satisfactory outcome. Accordingly, early clinical suspicion is the most important factor to achieve a timely diagnosis. The treatment of choice is arthroscopic lavage with intravenous antibiotic treatment. Graft retention, when possible, is important for obtaining better functional results.

Effect of prophylactic administration of vitamin C in chickens with staphylococcal septic arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Septic arthritis (SA) due to Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of lameness in poultry with improper response to antimicrobial therapy. OBJECTIVES: The study evaluates the effect of prophylactic administration of vitamin C on SA induced by methicillin resistant S. aureus in chickens. METHODS: One hundred and twenty chickens were randomly assigned into four groups: I. Negative control (NC), II. Positive control (PC) with SA induced at the age of 35 days by intra articular injection of S. aureus. III. Vehicle control (VC) and IV. Arthritic vitamin C-treated (VitC) group (15 g/100 L of drinking water from day 25 to the end of the experiment). Samplings were performed on day 44 (sampling 1) and day 54 (sampling 2) of age. RESULTS: Arthritic birds showed an obvious decrease in body weight with severe clinical arthritis and lameness which were not significantly affected by vitamin C administration at both samplings. Moreover, marked increase in serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration of the PC group was observed in sampling 1. Administration of vitamin C successfully reduced MDA concentration at both samplings. In sampling 2, birds in the VitC group showed significantly higher total antioxidant capacity (TAC) than NC birds (p < 0.05). Interleukin-6 concentration in synovial fluid of chickens remained statistically similar among groups in both samplings, while histopathological changes were ameliorated in the VitC group in sampling 2. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic administration of vitamin C especially for relatively longer period can ameliorate oxidative stress and histopathological changes due to staphylococcal arthritis in chickens, although it is not associated with a significant effect on clinical manifestations of the disease.

Effect of prophylactic vitamin C administration on the efficiency of florfenicol or sulfadiazine-trimethoprim antimicrobial therapy in chickens with staphylococcal arthritis.

Septic arthritis (SA) in chickens shows improper response to antibacterial therapy. This study evaluates the effect of prophylactic vitamin C administration on the efficiency of sulfadiazine-trimethoprim (SDT) or florfenicol (FF) in broilers with experimental SA. Broilers (210) were randomly allocated into 7 equal groups: (I) negative control (NC) (normal birds); (II) positive control (PC) arthritic birds by injection of Staphylococcus aureus in tibiotarsal joint at the age of 35 days; (III) vehicle control (injected with sterile medium); (IV) arthritic FF-treated (20 mg/kg/day); (V) arthritic vitamin C + FF-treated (as above + vitamin C at 15 g/100L of D.W. from day 25 of age); (VI) arthritic SDT-treated (35 mg/kg/day); (VII) arthritic vitamin C + SDT-treated. Antibacterial therapy started at day 39 of age and lasted for 5 days. Samplings were performed at the age of 44 and 54 days. A long lasting SA with severe fibrinoheterophilic synovitis and reduced body weights developed in PC broilers as compared to NC group (p < 0.05). Oxidative stress was present at sampling 1. Arthritis was not reflected in IL-6 levels of synovial fluid of PC group. None of the antibacterials resulted in completely successful treatment. Vitamin C did not appreciably improve lameness and arthritis scores, although it decreased lipid peroxidation and improved weights of FF treated-arthritic birds. For SDT-treated birds, vitamin C only ameliorated histopathological changes. In conclusion, except for improving body weight in FF-treated birds, prophylactic administration of vitamin C is not associated with improvements in clinical outcome of antimicrobial therapy of broilers with SA, although it ameliorates oxidative stress and some histopathological changes.

Intraosseous Regional Prophylactic Antibiotics Decrease the Risk of Prosthetic Joint Infection in Primary TKA: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated that the administration of regional prophylactic antibiotics by intraosseous (IO) injection achieves tissue concentrations around the knee that are 10- to 15-fold higher than intravenous (IV) delivery of prophylactic antibiotics. It is currently unknown whether the use of regional prophylactic antibiotics for primary TKA would result in a lower risk of prosthetic joint infection (PJI). QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Is IO injection of prophylactic antibiotics associated with a decreased risk of early (< 12 months) deep PJI compared with traditional IV prophylactic antibiotics? (2) What other patient factors are associated with an increased risk of early PJI after TKA, and do regional prophylactic antibiotics influence these risk factors? (3) Can IO antibiotics be administered to all patients, and what complications occurred from the delivery of IO prophylactic antibiotics? METHODS: A retrospective comparative study of all primary TKAs (1909 TKAs) over a 5-year period (January 2013 to December 2017) was performed to determine the risk of early PJI. Three primary TKAs did not meet the study inclusion criteria and were excluded from the study, leaving a total of 1906 TKAs (725 IO, 1181 IV) for analysis at a minimum of 12 months after index procedure. Both cohorts exhibited similar ages, BMI, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grades; however, a greater proportion of patients in the IO cohort were smokers (p = 0.01), while a greater proportion of patients were diabetic in the IV cohort (p = 0.006). The PJI risk between IO and IV delivery techniques was compared while adjusting for patient demographics and medical comorbidities. Complications related to IO delivery-inability to administer via IO technique, compartment syndrome, fat embolism, and red man syndrome with vancomycin use-were recorded. RESULTS: The delivery of regional prophylactic antibiotics by the IO technique resulted in a lower PJI risk than IV prophylactic antibiotics (0.1% [1 of 725] compared with 1.4% [16 of 1181]; relative risk 0.10 [95% CI 0.01 to 0.77]; p = 0.03). BMI (ß = -0.17; standard error = 0.08; p = 0.02), diabetes (ß = -1.80; standard error = 0.75; p = 0.02), and renal failure (ß = -2.37; standard error = 0.84; p = 0.01) were factors associated with of PJI, while smoking, sex, and ASA score were not contributing factors (p > 0.05). Although BMI, diabetes, and renal failure were identified as infection risk factors, the use of IO antibiotics in these patients did not result in a lower PJI risk compared with IV antibiotics (p > 0.05). IO antibiotics were able to be successfully administered to all patients in this cohort, and there were no complications related to the delivery of IO antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Surgeons should consider administering regional prophylactic antibiotics in primary TKA to reduce the risk of early PJI. Future randomized prospective clinical trials are needed to validate the efficacy of regional prophylactic antibiotics in reducing the PJI risk in primary TKA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Management of prosthetic joint infections in France: a national audit to identify key situations requiring innovation and homogenization.

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic joint infections (PJI) are one of the most serious complication of arthroplasty. The management of PJI needs a multidisciplinary collaboration between orthopaedic surgeon, infectious disease specialist and microbiologist. In France, the management of PJI is organized around reference centres (CRIOACs). Our main objective was to perform an audit through a questionnaire survey based on clinical cases, to evaluate how French physicians manage PJI. Eligible participants were all physicians involved in care of patients presenting a PJI. Physicians could answer individually, or collectively during a multidisciplinary team meeting dedicated to PJI. The survey consisted as three questionnaires organized in a total of six clinical cases. RESULTS: Answers from the CRIOACs to the three questionnaires were 92, 77, and 53%. Between 32 and 39% of respondents did not administer antibiotic prophylaxis despite positive S. aureus pre-operative documentation. One-stage exchange strategy was widely preferred in all clinical cases, with no difference between CRIOACs and other centres. Rifampicin was prescribed for S. aureus PJI, in a situation with (90-92%) or without any prosthesis (70%). There was no consensus for the total antibiotic regimen duration, with prescriptions from six to 12 weeks for a majority of respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical strategy for the management of PJI was homogenous with a preference for a one-stage exchange strategy. Medical management was more heterogenous, which reflects the heterogeneity of those infections and difficulties to perform studies with strong conclusions.

Editorial Commentary: Is It Time for the Vancomycin Wrap to Become a Universal Recommendation for the Prevention of Septic Arthritis Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction?

Septic arthritis is a devastating complication of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, which can still occur in approximately 1% of patients despite appropriate intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis and other recommended preventative measures being undertaken. The infection is most likely secondary to the autograft becoming contaminated during harvest and preparation, introducing bacteria into the joint on insertion. Presoaking ACL grafts in 5 mg/mL vancomycin is a novel method developed to eradicate this bacterial contamination and is supported by compelling Level III evidence from multiple observational trials showing a dramatic reduction in infection rates without any evidence of increased graft failure. As such, it is time for this technique to become a universal recommendation? That said, as observational studies using a historical cohort as a comparator are at risk of various biases, Level I evidence is ultimately required for infection prophylaxis methods to be recognized as a universal recommendation in infection control guidelines. Consequently, future research endeavors on the "vancomycin wrap" should focus on randomized controlled trials, possibly nested within ACL registries.

Risk Factors for Septic Arthritis After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Nationwide Analysis of 26,014 ACL Reconstructions.

BACKGROUND: Septic arthritis (SA) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a rare yet severe complication. The samples in previous studies have been small and without nationwide coverage, making analysis uncertain with a risk of bias. Conclusions to recommend preventive measures are therefore difficult to draw, and it has not been possible to perform a comprehensive risk factor analysis. PURPOSE: To study the incidence of SA after ACLR in a large, nationwide population and to study the risk factors for SA after ACLR. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: All ACLRs, primary and revision, in the Swedish Knee Ligament Registry between 2006 and 2013 were linked with data from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. The incidence of SA events was determined using entries from the day of surgery until 90 days postoperatively based on diagnosis codes and the prescription of antibiotics. All events of SA were verified via a review of medical records. Risk factors were analyzed based on data from the registries. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the findings, while logistic regression analysis was used for the risk analysis. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 26,014 primary and revision ACLRs. During the study period, 298 events of SA (1.1%) were identified. The high-volume units (≥500 ACLRs during the study period) had a distribution of SA between 2 and 47 (0.2%-2.9%). Independent risk factors of SA were male sex (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.28-2.13), operating time ≥70 minutes (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.42-2.36), hamstring tendon autograft (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.21-4.08), and clindamycin as perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.10-3.41). CONCLUSION: The incidence of SA after ACLR in this nationwide cohort was 1.1%. Male sex, hamstring tendon autografts, and a longer operating time were all independent risk factors for SA. The use of clindamycin as perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis was a risk factor compared with the use of cloxacillin. Some high-volume units had a very low infection rate (0.2%).

Editorial Commentary: Vancomycin Soaking of the Graft in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Concept on the Way to Becoming the New Gold Standard.

An increasing number of surgeons adopt the concept of vancomycin soaking of the graft in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and report drastically reduced numbers of postoperative septic knee arthritis. This reduction of incidence is supported by in vitro data, showing no influence of vancomycin on tendon material properties. Although the applied antibiotic concentration has reported to be potent in eradicating graft contamination, no evidence of chondrotoxicity has been shown. Based on the increasing evidence, the call for randomized controlled trials stands in ethical contrast with the medical responsibility not to withhold patients an infection prophylaxis that has already been proven to be safe and effective.

Soaking of autografts with vancomycin is highly effective on preventing postoperative septic arthritis in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction with hamstrings autografts.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of local soaking of the autografts with vancomycin during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction on postoperative infection rates. METHODS: Between 2003 and 2014 (first study period), 1,242 patients underwent ACL reconstruction using autografts, without soaking them in vancomycin solution, while between 2014 and 2019 (second study period) all ACL autografts in 593 patients were soaked in a 5-mg/ml vancomycin solution, in a territory University Hospital. The same standard treatment of perioperative IV antibiotics was applied in both groups. RESULTS: Postoperative septic arthritis occurred in seven out of 1,242 patients (0.56%) during the first study period. Bone patellar tendon bone autograft was used in 311 (25%) patients, and hamstring tendon autograft was used in the rest 931 (75%) of the study population during this period. All infected cases were male and had a hamstrings graft implanted. There were no postoperative infections (0%) in 593 ACL reconstructions during the second study period. Bone patellar tendon bone autograft was used in 178 (30%) patients while hamstring tendon autograft was used in the rest 415 (70%) of the study population, during this period. Statistical analysis revealed a significantly reduced postoperative infection rate (p = 0.018) between the two reported periods, with the main impact referring to the use of hamstrings autograft (p = 0.031) for the first study period. CONCLUSIONS: Septic arthritis following ACL reconstruction can be significantly reduced (or even eliminated) by soaking ACL autografts in a 5 mg/ml vancomycin solution. Of note, this strategy seems to be more effective in the setting of hamstring tendon autograft use, since the risk of postoperative knee infection is significantly higher when this type of graft is used.

El uso local de vancomicina en injerto autólogo para reconstrucción de ligamento cruzado anterior. ¿Reduce la tasa de artritis séptica? Comparación en dos grupos: uso local de profilaxis con vancomicina versus sin uso / The local use of vancomycin in autologous hamstring graft for ACL reconstruction. Does it reduce the rate of septic arthritis? Comparison in two groups: local use of prophylaxis with vancomycin vs. without use

Introducción: El objetivo del trabajo es evaluar y comparar de manera retrospectiva la tasa de artritis séptica (AS) postquirúrgicas en reconstrucción de LCA entre dos grupos de estudio: A, sin el uso local de vancomicina en el injerto autólogo de isquiotibiales, versus grupo B, con profilaxis antibiótica local.Materiales y métodos: se trabajaron dos grupos compuestos por 683 pacientes en total, con diagnóstico primario de ruptura de LCA. Grupo A, operados entre 2016 y 2017, en los que no se utilizó profilaxis antibiótica del autoinjerto; y el grupo B, intervenidos entre 2018 y 2019, donde se sumergió el autoinjerto de isquiotibiales en 500 mg de vancomicina en 100 ml de solución fisiológica como profilaxis local. En ambos grupos se llevó a cabo el protocolo usual pre, intra y postquirúrgico. Resultados: se analizó la relación entre presencia de infección y las diferentes variables estudiadas, se observó que el uso local de vancomicina en el injerto autólogo de isquiotibiales está asociado a menor infección (p <0.05). La edad, el sexo y el sanatorio donde se realiza la cirugía no condicionan necesariamente la presencia de infección (p >0.05).Conclusión: presentamos este trabajo como prueba en nuestro medio del claro beneficio que se obtuvo, ya que los pacientes que fueron sometidos a la profilaxis local de vancomicina del autoinjerto mostraron una disminución notable de artritis séptica.Tipo de estudio: Artículo Original ­ Descriptivo-transversal. Nivel de evidencia: III

Introduction: The aim of the study is to evaluate and retrospectively compare the rate of postoperative septic arthritis (SA) in ACL reconstruction, between two study groups: A without local use of vancomycin in autologous hamstring graft versus group B with local antibiotic prophylaxisMaterials and methods: two groups composed of 683 patients in total, with a primary diagnosis of ACL rupture, were studied. Group A, operated on in 2016 and 2017, in which antibiotic prophylaxis of the autograft was not used; and the second group B, between 2018 and 2019, where the hamstring autograft was submerged in 500 mg of vancomycin in 100 ml of physiological solution as local prophylaxis. Preoperative intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis was carried out in both groups as the usual protocol.Results: it was obtained as a result that in group A, the two years that they worked without "pre-soaking" of antibiotics in the autograft and the relationship between the presence of infection and the different variables studied was analyzed, where they found that the use Local vancomycin in the autologous hamstring graft is associated with a minor infection (p <0.05). However, age, sex and the sanatorium where the surgery is performed do not necessarily determine the presence of infection (p >0.05)Conclusion: we present this work as proof in our environment of the clear benefit that we obtained, since the patients who underwent local prophylaxis of vancomycin of the autograft, showed a notable decrease in septic arthritis.Type of study: Original Article - Descriptive-cross-sectional. Level of Evidence: III

Not Just Endocarditis: Hospitalizations for Selected Invasive Infections Among Persons With Opioid and Stimulant Use Diagnoses-North Carolina, 2010-2018.

BACKGROUND: While increases in overdoses, viral hepatitis, and endocarditis associated with drug use have been well-documented in North Carolina, the full scope of invasive drug-related infections (IDRIs) has not. We characterized trends in IDRIs among hospitalized patients in North Carolina. METHODS: We compared invasive infections that were related or not related to drug use among hospitalized patients aged 18-55 years based on retrospective review of administrative records from 2010-2018. Hospitalizations for endocarditis, central nervous system/spine infections, osteomyelitis, and septic arthritis were labeled as IDRIs if discharge codes included opioid and/or amphetamine misuse. Trends, rates, and distributions were calculated. RESULTS: Among 44 851 hospitalizations for the specified infections, 2830 (6.3%) were IDRIs. The proportion of infections attributable to drug use increased from 1.5% (2010) to 13.1% (2018), and the rate grew from 1.2 to 15.1 per 100 000. Compared with those who had non-drug-related infections, patients with IDRIs were younger (median age, 35 vs 46 years), more likely to be non-Hispanic white (81% vs 56%), and had longer hospitalizations (median, 8 vs 6 days). 43% of hospitalizations for IDRIs involved infective endocarditis. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of IDRIs in North Carolina increased substantially during 2010-2018, indicating an urgent need for enhanced infection prevention, harm reduction, and addiction services aimed at community and inpatient settings.

Tranexamic Acid Reduces the Rate of Periprosthetic Joint Infection After Aseptic Revision Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Revision total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has a higher rate of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) compared with primary TJA, possibly as the result of increased allogeneic blood transfusion. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is gaining popularity in revision TJA to minimize blood loss and the need for transfusion; however, its effect on PJI reduction has yet to be investigated. The hypothesis of this study was that the administration of TXA during revision arthroplasty is protective against subsequent PJI. METHODS: A prospectively maintained institutional database was used to identify patients who underwent revision TJA for aseptic failure from 2009 to 2018 and had a minimum follow-up of 90 days. Patients who developed PJI following revision arthroplasty were identified. All patients with PJI met Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify variables independently associated with PJI after aseptic revision TJA. RESULTS: Overall, 1,731 patients who underwent aseptic revision were identified; of these patients, 83 (4.8%) developed PJI. Patients who received TXA had significantly lower rates (p = 0.029) of PJI postoperatively at 3.30% compared with those who did not receive TXA at 5.73%. After controlling for relevant confounding variables, TXA remained a significant independent factor that protected against PJI (odds ratio [OR], 0.47 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.23 to 0.90]; p = 0.030). Female sex was also identified as a significant independent factor that protected against PJI (OR, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.30 to 0.88]; p = 0.016). However, preoperative anemia was independently associated with an increased risk of subsequent PJI (OR, 2.37 [95% CI, 1.34 to 4.16]; p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Based on this study conducted at a single institution, the use of TXA during aseptic revision arthroplasty was independently associated with a reduced risk of subsequent acute PJI after adjusting for multiple patient characteristics and surgical factors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Relationship of Graft Type and Vancomycin Presoaking to Rate of Infection in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Meta-Analysis of 198 Studies with 68,453 Grafts.

BACKGROUND: Infection is a devastating complication in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery. Given the rarity of infection, pooling individual studies via meta-analysis can allow more meaningful evaluation of factors influencing infection rates. We aimed to determine the relationship of graft type and vancomycin graft presoaking to bacterial infection rates following ACLR. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL (Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials). Included articles were those reporting on primary arthroscopic or open ACLR procedures, using hamstring (HT) or bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autografts or allografts of any type, with regard to the outcome of infection (deep infection or septic arthritis). Meta-analyses were performed to estimate the overall infection rates in ACLR surgery according to graft type and to examine the effect of presoaking grafts in vancomycin on infection rates. RESULTS: We identified 306 bacterial infections in 68,453 grafts across 198 studies. The overall estimated ACL graft infection rate in our meta-analysis was 0.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.8% to 1.0%). HT autografts were associated with a higher infection rate (1.1%, CI = 0.9% to 1.2%) than BPTB autografts (0.7%, CI = 0.6% to 0.9%) and allografts (0.5%, CI = 0.4% to 0.8%) (Q = 15.58, p < 0.001). Presoaking HT autografts in vancomycin reduced infection rates to 0.1% (CI = 0.0% to 0.4%) (Q = 10.62, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Infection following ACLR remains a rare but serious complication. HT autografts are associated with higher infection rates than other graft types. Presoaking HT autografts in vancomycin reduces infection rates by an estimated tenfold. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Preoperative optimization to prevent periprosthetic joint infection in at-risk patients.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains an important complication with devastating consequences after total joint arthroplasties. With the increasing number of arthroplasties worldwide, the number of PJI will increase correspondingly with a significant economic burden to our healthcare system. It is likely impossible to completely eradicate PJI; hence, assessment and optimization of its risk factors to preventing such a disastrous complication will be the key. There are many strategies to prevent PJI in the preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative phases. The preoperative assessment provides a unique opportunity to screen and diagnose underlying comorbidities and optimize modifiable risk factors before elective surgeries. In this review, we will focus on current literature in preoperative assessment of various modifiable risk factors and share the experience and practical approach in our institution in preoperative optimization to reduce PJI in total joint arthroplasties.

Meta-analysis in periprosthetic joint infection: a global bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the most serious complication of joint replacement surgery. Further comorbidities include bedsore, deep vein thrombosis, reinfection, or even death. An increasing number of researchers are focusing on this challenging complication. The aim of the present study was to estimate global PJI research based on bibliometrics from meta-analysis studies. METHODS: A database search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Relevant studies were assessed using the bibliometric analysis. RESULTS: A total of 117 articles were included. The most relevant literature on PJI was found on Scopus. China made the highest contributions to global research, followed by the USA and the UK. The institution with the most contributions was the University of Bristol. The journal with the highest number of publications was The Journal of Arthroplasty, whereas the Journal of Clinical Medicine had the shortest acceptance time. Furthermore, the top three frequently used databases were Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane. The most frequent number of authors in meta-analysis studies was four. Most studies focused on the periprosthetic hip and knee. The alpha-defensin diagnostic test, preventive measures on antibiotics use, and risk factors of intra-articular steroid injections were the most popular topic in recent years. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the present study, we found that there was no single database that covered all relevant articles; the optimal method for bibliometric analysis is a combination of databases. The most popular research topics on PJI focused on alpha-defensin, antibiotic use, risk factors of intra-articular steroid injections, and the location of prosthetic hip and knee infection.