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Synovial fluid analysis is important in diagnosing prosthetic joint infection (PJI). The rate of culture-positive PJI in patients who have a dry tap of a total hip arthroplasty (THA) is not well described. We reviewed all image-guided THA aspirations, performed from 2014 to 2021 at a single academic institution. Aspirations were categorized as successful (≥ 0.5 mL) or unsuccessful (< 0.5 mL, "dry tap"). We analyzed culture data on all repeat aspirations and revision surgeries performed within 90 days of the initial dry tap. We reviewed 275 consecutive attempted THA aspirations of which 100 (36.4%) resulted in a dry tap. The dry tap cohort had a significantly higher percentage of fluoroscopic-guided aspirations (64%) and fewer ultrasound-guided aspirations (36%) compared to the successful aspiration cohort (48.9% fluoroscopic, 53.1% ultrasound, P =.0061). Of the 100 patients who have dry taps, 48 underwent revision surgery within 90 days of the initial dry tap, and 15 resulted in 2 or more positive cultures. The rate of PJI defined by MusculoSkeletal Infection Society major criteria in the dry tap cohort was 16.0%. Attempted aspiration of a THA resulted in a dry tap 36.4% of the time. Of those patients who had a dry tap, 16.0% were subsequently found to have PJI based on MusculoSkeletal Infection Society major criteria. Therefore, a "dry tap" does not exclude the diagnosis of infection and should not be considered reassuring for the absence of PJI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) carries major morbidity and mortality as well as a complicated and lengthy treatment course. In patients who have high degrees of socioeconomic disadvantage, this may be a particularly devastating complication. Our study sought to evaluate the impact of socioeconomic deprivation on outcomes following treatment for PJI of the knee. We conducted a retrospective review of revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures performed for the treatment of initial PJI between 2008 and 2020 at a single tertiary care center in the United States. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) was used to quantify socioeconomic deprivation. The primary outcome measure was presence of a functional knee joint at the time of most recent follow-up defined as TKA components or an articulating spacer. A total of 96 patients were included for analysis. The median follow-up duration was 26.5 months. There was no significant difference in the rate of treatment failure (P =.63). However, the proportion of patients who had a functional knee arthroplasty (in contrast to having undergone arthrodesis, amputation, or retention of a static spacer) declined significantly with increasing ADI index (81.8% for the least disadvantaged group, 58.7% for the middle group, 42.9% for the most disadvantaged group, P =.021). Patients who have a higher socioeconomic disadvantage as measured by ADI are less likely to maintain a functional knee arthroplasty following treatment for TKA PJI. These findings support continued efforts to improve access to care and optimize treatment plans for patients who have socioeconomic disadvantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aseptic humeral stem loosening is an uncommon complication of shoulder arthroplasty, and its presence has been considered a highly specific predictor of prosthetic joint infection (PJI). Literature on aseptic humeral stem loosening is sparse. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the rate of aseptic humeral loosening in revision shoulder arthroplasty. Secondarily, we sought to identify predictors of septic and aseptic humeral loosening. Our institutional revision shoulder arthroplasty database was reviewed. Inclusion criteria were patients with humeral stem loosening as indicated in the operative report. Patient demographics, index surgery and indication, revision surgery and indication, and operative data were recorded. Charts were manually reviewed, and PJI scores were calculated using the International Consensus Meeting scoring criteria. International Consensus Meeting classifications of PJI "unlikely" and "possible" were considered aseptic, and PJI "probable" and "definite" were considered septic. Statistical analysis was performed to determine associations between the abovementioned variables and aseptic humeral loosening. Forty-six patients with 48 shoulders were included in our analysis. Ten cases (21%) were classified as definite PJI, 13 cases (27%) were classified as probable PJI, 4 cases (8%) were classified as possible PJI, and 21 cases (44%) were classified as PJI unlikely. On analysis of stem design, there were no statistically significant associations with aseptic loosening; although, a lack of proximal porous ingrowth surface trended toward higher rates of aseptic loosening in all patients and in anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (ATSA) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) subgroup analyses. In the index RTSA subgroup, aseptic loosening was associated with female sex (P =.005). Seventeen of 39 shoulders (44%) that underwent either index ATSA or RTSA demonstrated concomitant glenoid loosening. The absence of glenoid loosening was associated with aseptic humeral loosening in index ATSA and RTSA (P <.001). Fifty-two % of revision shoulder arthroplasty cases with humeral loosening performed at our institution were aseptic. There appear to be distinct demographic and radiographic factors that are more commonly associated with aseptic as opposed to septic humeral loosening. Our data demonstrate that demographic predictors of aseptic loosening of RTSA include female sex. The absence of glenoid component loosening is associated with aseptic humeral loosening and concomitant glenoid loosening is associated with septic humeral loosening. Understanding of these factors can guide the preoperative index of suspicion for PJI in the setting of humeral stem loosening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection (PJI), a complication that affects thousands of Australians each year. It discusses the challenges in diagnosing PJI and highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. The article also explores innovative diagnostic methods, such as joint aspiration and culture, nuclear medicine imaging, and synovial fluid biomarkers. However, these methods are not yet widely accessible. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for further research in this area to improve diagnosis and treatment of PJI. [Extracted from the article]

Patients who undergo total shoulder arthroplasty usually have excellent long-term outcomes. However, a subset of patients is diagnosed with a prosthetic joint infection (PJI) requiring revision procedures and prolonged recovery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate rates of recurrent shoulder PJI in patients undergoing débridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR), single-stage revision, and 2-stage revision. We also sought to compare outcomes and complications across procedures. Retrospective chart review was conducted for patients diagnosed with PJI after primary shoulder arthroplasty between January 2010 and August 2021. Patients were included if they underwent treatment with DAIR, single-stage revision, or 2-stage revision. Demographic information, surgical details, complications, laboratory data, postoperative antibiotic regimen, and infectious pathogen were collected. Postoperative patient-reported outcomes were collected: American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, Shoulder Activity Scale, and PROMIS Upper Extremity. Chi-square, t test, and 1-way analysis of variance were used as appropriate to evaluate each factor. Sixty-five patients were included in the study, 26% treated with DAIR, 9% treated with single-stage revision, and 65% treated with 2-stage revision. There were no significant differences in patient comorbidities. Patients undergoing DAIR were diagnosed significantly earlier than those undergoing single- and 2-stage revision procedures (12.6 ± 22.9 months vs. 49.6 ± 48.4 vs. 25.0 ± 26.6, P =.010). Recurrent PJI was noted in 23.1% of patients: 29.4% of DAIR patients, no single-stage patients, and 23.8% of 2-stage patients (P =.330). Patients undergoing 2-stage revision with treatment failure had a significantly higher Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (0.2 ± 3.7 vs. 3.7 ± 3.9, P =.027). There was no significant difference in patient-reported outcomes across groups. Patients undergoing treatment of shoulder PJI with DAIR did not have an increased rate of reinfection compared with single-stage and 2-stage revision procedures. Patients treated with DAIR were diagnosed with PJI significantly earlier than those undergoing single-stage and 2-stage revision procedures. There was no difference in complication rates between groups. This information adds to the body of work detailing outcomes after DAIR for shoulder PJI and provides encouraging data for use in this patient population. Future studies with a larger sample size may be conducted to further investigate specific pathogens, infection timelines, and antibiotic regimens that reduce the risk of treatment failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synovial leukocyte count analysis is an important tool in the diagnosis of PJI. However, results can be poor if metallosis is present. The issue of metallosis was established for some rotating hinge knee arthroplasty designs. This was a retrospective single-center analysis that included 108 patients who had a single-design metal-on-metal rotating hinge knee arthroplasty who underwent revision surgery and had prior synovial fluid analysis performed. The diagnostic accuracy of leukocyte count and the percentage of polymorphonuclear neutrophiles (% PMN) were investigated. Patients who had a PJI had a higher median leukocyte count and % PMN compared to aseptic revisions (7,905/μL (interquartile range (IQR) 2,419 to 37,400) and 85% (IQR 70.3 to 93.8) versus 450 (IQR 167 to 1,215) and 46% (IQR 28.5 to 67.4%), P <.001). The respective areas under the curves were 0.916 (95% confidence interval 0.862 to 0.970) for leukocyte count and 0.821 (95% confidence interval 0.739 to 0.902) for % PMN. We calculated an optimal cut-off value of 1,200 leukocytes/μL (Sensitivity 94.5%/specificity 75.5%) and 63% PMN (Sensitivity 85.5%/specificity 73.6%) to define PJI. Established thresholds were less sensitive, but more specific. The "infection likely" scenario of the European Bone and Joint Infection Society (EBJIS) definition was closest to the calculated thresholds. Currently used thresholds for leukocyte cell count and %PMN to define PJI were less sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of PJI in metal-on-metal RHK knees. Surgeons must consider lower cut-off values when evaluating such implants for PJI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria leads to increased mortality. Little is known about development of SIRS in patients who have prosthetic joint infection (PJI). We aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors, clinical outcomes, and causative organisms in patients who develop SIRS with PJI. We retrospectively identified 655 patients (321 men, 334 women; 382 total hip, 273 total knee) who have hip or knee PJI at 1 institution between July 1, 2015 and December 31, 2020. We formed 2 groups: patients who have SIRS alert (PJI + SIRS) and patients who do not have SIRS alert (PJI). We analyzed clinical outcomes, comorbidities, and operating room culture results. Of 655 patients, 63 developed SIRS with PJI (9.6%). Intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates (27.0 versus. 6.9%, P <. 001) and length of stay (7.7 versus. 5.6 days, P =. 003) were greater in PJI + SIRS. At 2 years, reoperation (36.5 versus. 22.3%, P =. 01) and mortality rates (17.5 versus. 8.8%, P =. 03) were greater in PJI + SIRS. Risk factors included deficiency anemia (P =.001), blood loss anemia (P =. 013), uncomplicated diabetes (P =. 006), diabetes with complication (P =. 001), electrolyte disorder (P <. 00001), neurological disorder (P =. 0001), paralysis (P =. 026), renal failure (P =. 005), and peptic ulcer disease (P =. 004). Staphylococcus aureus more commonly speciated on tissue cultures in PJI + SIRS (P =. 002). The incidence of SIRS is 10% among patients who have PJI. Development of PJI + SIRS is associated with increased lengths of stay, ICU admissions, and 2-year reoperation and mortality rates. Identifying certain comorbidities can stratify patients' risk of developing PJI + SIRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study aimed to determine if the anterior approach (AP) influenced the incidence of early PJI in THA compared to posterior approach (PP). Record linkage was performed between state-wide hospitalization data and a national joint replacement registry to identify unilateral THA performed via the AP or PP. Complete data on 12,605 AP and 25,569 PP THAs were obtained. Propensity score matching (PSM) was undertaken to match covariates between the approaches. Outcomes were the 90-day PJI hospital readmission rate(using narrow and broad definitions) and 90-day PJI revision rate (defined as component removal or exchange). The raw PJI readmission rate for AP was lower than PP (0.8% versus 1.1%, respectively). In the PSM analysis, there was no statistically significant difference in PJI readmission rate between approaches using narrow or broad definition of PJI readmission. In terms of revision for infection, both methods showed AP had a significantly lower rate than PP, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.47 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30, 0.75) for the 1:1 nearest neighbor method and 0.50 (95% CI 0.32, 0.77) for the subclassification method. After addressing known confounders, there was no significant difference in the 90-day hospital readmission rate for hip PJI between approaches. There was a significantly reduced 90-day PJI revision rate for AP. The difference in revision may reflect differences in the surgical management of PJI between hip approaches rather than a difference in the underlying rate of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the worst complications of joint arthroplasty with an incidence of around 1% following primary arthroplasty, 3% following aseptic revision, and 20% following septic revision. It can occur following direct inoculation, haematogenous or contiguous spread. The majority of PJIs are secondary to bacterial infection although fungal PJI may be seen in multiply operated or immune compromised patients. Risk factors for PJI include patient, pathology and procedure-related factors which, where possible, should be optimized prior to surgery. The diagnosis of PJI remains a challenge and is based on patient history, clinical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging studies. No diagnostic assessment is 100% accurate with various diagnostic criteria used clinically. Investigation and treatment of PJI should be guided by a multi-disciplinary team. Surgical treatment remains the gold standard with the aim of eradicating infection. During surgery the causative organism is sought through a rigorous standardized tissue sampling technique. Surgical approaches including debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR), single-stage revision, two-stage revision, excision arthroplasty, arthrodesis and amputation. The approach used is tailored to the individual patient with the optimum surgical strategy being one that successfully eradicates the infection, but at the same time minimizes morbidity to the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the most devastating complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and comorbidities increase the risk. We examined whether a temporal change has occurred in the demographics, especially regarding comorbidities, of patients who have PJI and were treated at our institution over a 13-year study period. In addition, we assessed the surgical methods used and the microbiology of the PJIs. Revisions (n = 384, 377 patients) due to PJI of the knee performed at our institution between 2008 and September 2021 were identified. All included PJIs fulfilled the 2013 International Consensus Meeting diagnostic criteria. The surgeries were categorized into one of the following categories: debridement, antibiotics, and retention (DAIR), 1-stage revision, and 2-stage revision. Infections were classified as early, acute hematogenous, and chronic. No changes in the median age of the patients nor comorbidity burden were observed during the study period. However, the proportion of 2-stage revisions decreased remarkably from 57.6% in 2008 to 2009 to 6.3% in 2020 to 2021. A DAIR was the most used treatment strategy, but the proportion of 1-stage revisions increased the most. In 2008 to 2009, 12.1% of the revisions were 1-stage, but in 2020 to 2021, the proportion was 43.8%. The most common pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus (27.8%). The comorbidity burden remained at the same level with no trends. A DAIR was the most used strategy, but the proportion of 1-stage revisions rose to almost the same level. The incidence of PJI varied between the years, but remained relatively low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are common sequelae of diabetes mellitus. Currently, the effect of DFUs on total joint arthroplasty (TJA) outcomes is sparsely evaluated. This study investigated whether DFU patients undergoing TJA increases risk of (1) prosthetic joint infections (PJI), (2) surgical site infections (SSI), (3) sepsis, (4) readmissions, and (5) revisions. Using PearlDiver, a retrospective query from January 1, 2010 to October 31, 2020 was performed. DFU patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) were included and 1:5 propensity score matched with controls using age, sex, body mass index, and various comorbidities (33,155 TKA patients [DFU = 5,529; control = 27,626]; 17,146 THA patients [DFU = 2,862; control = 14,284]). Outcomes included rates of PJI, SSI, sepsis, readmissions, and revisions. Multivariate logistical regressions calculated odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals, and P values (P <.001 as significance threshold). DFU increased risk of sepsis within 90 days of TKA (OR 4.59; P <.001) and THA (OR 4.87; P <.001). DFU did not increase risk of PJI at 90 days for TKA (OR 0.8; P =.1) or THA (OR 0.85; P =.34) but did by 2 years post-TKA (OR 1.51; P <.001) and THA (OR 1.55; P <.001). Risk of SSI increased in DFU cohort following TKA and THA at 90 days and 2 years and at 90-day readmissions and 2-year revisions. DFU patients undergoing TJA demonstrated increased risk of postoperative sepsis and PJI. Furthermore, DFU patients demonstrated an increased risk of SSI, readmissions, and revisions. Providers should counsel DFU patients about postoperative risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence, associated disease burden and healthcare utilization due to Staphylococcus aureus prosthetic joint infections (SA-PJI) after primary hip and knee arthroplasty in European centres. This study was conducted in patients who underwent primary hip and knee arthroplasty in 19 European hospitals between 2014 and 2016. The global incidence of PJI and SA-PJI was calculated. The associated disease burden was measured indirectly as infection-related mortality plus loss of function. For healthcare utilization, number and duration of hospitalizations, number and type of surgical procedures, duration of antibiotic treatments, and number of outpatient visits were collected. Subgroup and regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact of SA-PJI on healthcare utilization, controlling for confounding variables. The incidence of PJI caused by any micro-organism was 1.41%, and 0.40% for SA-PJI. Among SA - PJI, 20.7% were due to MRSA with substantial regional differences, and were more frequent in partial hip arthroplasty (PHA). Related deaths and loss of function occurred in 7.0% and 10.2% of SA-PJI cases, respectively, and were higher in patients with PHA. Compared with patients without PJI, patients with SA-PJI had a mean of 1.4 more readmissions, 25.1 more days of hospitalization, underwent 1.8 more surgical procedures, and had 5.4 more outpatient visits, controlling for confounding variables. Healthcare utilization was higher in patients who failed surgical treatment of SA-PJI. This study confirmed that the SA-PJI burden is high, especially in PHA, and provided a solid basis for planning interventions to prevent SA-PJI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone and joint infections can present in many ways. It is important to understand the features of the infection which contribute to the complexity of the condition and affect the outcome of treatment for the patient. Classification systems can do this but are often ignored in clinical decision-making and design of research projects. Recent work has better documented the key features of the patient and limb which must be considered when treatment is planned. This paper reviews the available classifications and their application to clinical practice. The Cierny and Mader and JS-BACH classifications offer useful information for stratifying cases and provide evidence-based advice on outcome from treatment for patients. Both have been validated in well-defined patient cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Aspirin has been shown to be effective at reducing rates of VTE. In select patients, more potent thromboprophylaxis is indicated, which has been associated with increased rates of bleeding and wound complications. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of thromboprophylaxis choice on the rates of early prosthetic joint infection (PJI) following TKA. A review of 11,547 primary TKA patients from 2013 to 2019 at a single academic orthopaedic hospital was conducted. The primary outcome measure was PJI within 90 days of surgery as measured by Musculoskeletal Infection Society criteria. There were 59 (0.5%) patients diagnosed with early PJI. Chi-square and Welch-2 sample t -tests were used to determine statistically significant relationships between thromboprophylaxis and demographic variables. Significance was set at P <.05. Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age, body mass index, sex, and Charlson comorbidity index was performed to identify and control for independent risk factors for early PJI. There was a statistically significant difference in the rates of early PJI between the aspirin and non-aspirin group (0.3 versus 0.8%, P <.001). Multivariate logistic regressions revealed that patients given aspirin thromboprophylaxis had significantly lower odds of PJI (odds ratios = 0.51, 95% confidence interval = 0.29-0.89, P =.019) compared to non-aspirin patients. The use of aspirin thromboprophylaxis following primary TKA is independently associated with a lower rate of early PJIs. Arthroplasty surgeons should consider aspirin as the gold standard thromboprophylaxis in all patients in which it is deemed medically appropriate and should carefully weigh the morbidity of PJI in patients when non-aspirin thromboprophylaxis is considered. Retrospective, Therapeutic Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the most devastating complications after total hip arthroplasty (THA), and comorbidities increase the risk. We examined whether there was a temporal change in the demographics, especially regarding comorbidities, of patients who have PJIs and were treated over a 13-year study period at a high-volume academic joint arthroplasty center. In addition, the surgical methods used and the microbiology of the PJIs were assessed. Revisions (n = 423, 418 patients) due to PJI of the hip performed at our institution between 2008 and September 2021 were identified. All included PJIs fulfilled the 2013 International Consensus Meeting diagnostic criteria. The surgeries were categorized into one of the following categories: debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention, 1-stage revision, and 2-stage revision. Infections were classified as early, acute hematogenous, and chronic infections. There was no change in the median age of the patients, but the proportion of ASA-class 4 patients increased from 10.5% to 20%. The incidence of early infections increased from 0.11 per 100 primary THAs in 2008 to 1.09 in 2021. The incidence of 1-stage revisions increased the most, rising from 0.10 per 100 primary THAs in 2010 to 0.91 per 100 primary THAs in 2021. Furthermore, the proportion of infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus increased from 26.3% in 2008 to 2009 to 40% in 2020 to 2021. The comorbidity burden of PJI patients increased during the study period. This increase may present a treatment challenge, as comorbidities are known to have a negative effect on PJI treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periprosthetic infection is a devastating complication following total knee arthroplasty. A 2-stage protocol often includes an interim antibiotic spacer with intramedullary (IM) dowels. However, the necessity of IM dowels has recently been challenged. Specifically, the data supporting bacterial colonization of the IM canal are limited and controversial. The purpose of this study was to identify the rate of positive IM cultures during resection arthroplasty in periprosthetic knee infection. A total of 66 IM diaphyseal cultures were taken during resection arthroplasty from 34 patients diagnosed with periprosthetic knee infection. These IM cultures were taken from the femoral and tibial canals using separate sterile instruments. All patients had infected primary total knee arthroplasty implants at the time of resection. Thirty one percent (n = 21) of IM canal cultures in this study were positive from either the tibial or the femoral diaphysis at the time of resection arthroplasty. There were 18 of 21 (86%) of the positive IM canal cultures with concordant intraoperative joint cultures where the IM cultures matched the intraarticular cultures. With a 31% positive IM canal culture rate, this study confirms the logic of using IM dowels with an antibiotic spacer to treat periprosthetic knee infection. Since the failure of a 2-stage reimplantation is catastrophic, any attempt to provide additional local antibiotic delivery seems warranted. Since nearly one-third of our patients had positive IM cultures, this simple addition to an antibiotic spacer has the potential to improve 2-stage results. Claims supporting the elimination of IM dowels during resection arthroplasty seem ill-advised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-stage exchange arthroplasty is currently the preferred treatment method for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). The effectiveness of this strategy in returning patients to premorbid function has recently been challenged. In a review of 18,535 PJI knee patients, 38% did not undergo reimplantation. In another review of 18,156 hip and knee PJI patients, 43% did not undergo reimplantation. These disturbing statistics led us to ask whether treatment at a specialized PJI center could improve the rate of reimplantation compared to the previously noted studies from large national administrative databases. A retrospective review of our registry was performed to identify 390 patients who underwent a two-stage exchange after total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty who had a confirmed chronic bacterial PJI, defined by Musculoskeletal Infection Society criteria, from January 2010 through December 2019. Variables included number of joints resected, number reimplanted, and the number not reimplanted. Of the 390 patients undergoing 2-stage treatment, 386 of 390 (99%) were reimplanted and 4 of 390 (1%) were not reimplanted due to medical issues. We have shown that 2-stage treatment at a PJI center significantly improves the rate of reimplantation. A specialized PJI center with experienced revision surgeons doing high volume infection procedures complemented by infectious disease and medical consultants familiar with the special needs of PJI patients may be advantageous. A national network of such centers may have the ability to improve outcomes, standardize treatment protocols, and allow for collaborative research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication of knee and hip arthroplasty. Past literature has shown that gram-positive bacteria are commonly responsible for these infections, although limited research exists studying the changes in the microbial profile of PJIs over time. This study sought to analyze the incidence and trends of pathogens responsible for PJI over three decades. This is a multi-institutional retrospective review of patients who had a knee or hip PJI from 1990 to 2020. Patients with a known causative organism were included and those with insufficient culture sensitivity data were excluded. There were 731 eligible joint infections from 715 patients identified. Organisms were divided into multiple categories based on genus/species and 5-year increments were used to analyze the study period. The Cochran-Armitage trend tests were used to evaluate linear trends in microbial profile over time and a P -value <.05 was considered statistically significant. There was a statistically significant positive linear trend in the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus over time (P =.0088) as well as a statistically significant negative linear trend in the incidence of coagulase-negative staphylococci over time (P =.0018). There was no statistical significance between organism and affected joint (knee/hip). The incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus PJI is increasing over time, whereas, coagulase-negative staphylococci PJI is decreasing, paralleling the global trend of antibiotic resistance. Identifying these trends may help with the prevention and treatment of PJI through methods such as remodeling perioperative protocols, modifying prophylactic/empiric antimicrobial approaches, or transitioning to alternative therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies over the years have offered modalities that may greatly decrease the rate of periprosthetic joint infection when implemented. As a result, one would expect a drastic decrease in infection rate among the implementing population with its widespread use. The purpose of this study was to assess whether there exists a decrease in infection rate over time, after accounting for available confounding variables, within a large national database. A large national database from 2005 to 2019 was queried for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In total, 221,416 THAs and 354,049 TKAs were performed over the study period. Differences in 30-day infection rate were assessed with time and available preoperative risk factors using multinominal logistic regressions. Rate of infection overall trended downward for both THA and TKA. After accounting for confounding variables, odds of THA infection marginally decreased over time (odds ratio 0.968 [0.952-0.985], P <.0001), while the odds of a TKA infection marginally increased with time (odds ratio 1.037 [1.020-1.054], P <.0001). Individual peer-reviewed publications have presented infection control modalities demonstrating dramatic decreases in infection rate while analysis at a population level shows almost no changes in infection rate over a 15-year time period. This study supports continued investigation for influential modalities in preventing periprosthetic joint infection and care in patient selection for primary hip and knee arthroplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunocompromised patients are at risk of opportunistic infections. This is a 67-year-old woman with systemic sclerosis and knee osteoarthritis who underwent left total knee arthroplasty in 2009. In 2018 she underwent surgery for presumed aseptic loosening. Inflammation and purulent fluid were found; implant was removed and replaced with a static spacer. Three weeks later, H. capsulatum was isolated. She was successfully treated with itraconazole for 18 months; cultures on revision spacer replacement surgery were negative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is where a joint that has been replaced with an orthopaedic implant becomes infected. PJI is given special consideration because of difficulties in treatment and the potential for life- and limb-changing sequelae for patients. Management of PJI requires collaboration between multiple specialists and is best managed within a multidisciplinary team. This article provides an overview on the diagnosis and treatment of PJI. We have described clinical prediction rules used to aid diagnosis in challenging cases. We have outlined first-line treatment options (such as debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR) procedures, single-stage and two-stage revision surgery), and second-line treatments (including chronic antibiotic suppression and salvage procedures). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A preoperative risk score, the KLIC score (chronic renal failure [K], liver cirrhosis [L], indication of the index surgery [I], cemented prosthesis [C], and C-reactive protein >115 mg/L), has been developed to predict the risk of treatment failure after early prosthetic joint infection (PJI). This study aimed to validate the KLIC score for the debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR) procedure and one-stage revisions in a Northern European cohort. Revisions due to early PJI of the hip or knee between January 1, 2008, and September 12, 2021, were identified retrospectively. The primary outcome was early failure, which was considered when the patient needed an unscheduled surgery, the patient died, or the patient was prescribed long-term suppressive antibiotics. To examine the association between KLIC score and failure risk, univariable logistic regression with area under the curve (AUC) was used. In addition, models were calibrated to assess prognostic ability and clinical utility was examined with decision-curve analyses. An increase in KLIC score had a moderate predictive value for early failure after DAIR (odds ratio [OR] 1.45; confidence interval [CI] 1.13 to 1.90). For one-stage revision, it was only slightly predictive of failure (OR 1.20; CI 0.93 to 1.56). After 60 days, the AUC for DAIR was 0.63 (CI 0.55 to 0.72) and 0.56 (CI 0.46 to 0.66) for one-stage revisions, indicating poor discriminative ability. The decision-curve analyses revealed that the model did not offer a remarkable net benefit across a range of threshold probabilities. We demonstrated that the KLIC score is not a reliable predictor of early failure after early PJI in a Northern European cohort. Using the model to guide treatment decisions does not provide any additional clinical utility beyond the baseline strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastation complication of total joint arthroplasty that can result in poor patient outcomes. Anaerobic organisms make up a small proportion of PJI cases and are much less studied. Studies comparing patient outcomes in anaerobic PJI to outcomes in aerobic PJI are sparse. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical presentation, duration of antibiotics, type of treatment provided, and final outcome between PJI patients with anaerobic infection and those with aerobic infection. This was a retrospective study of 26 patients who underwent treatment for PJI at a tertiary referral center. Eight patients with anaerobic PJI were compared to 18 patients with aerobic PJI in terms of clinical presentation, laboratory values, treatment duration, and functional outcome. Statistical analysis was performed on continuous variables of interest. The results of our study showed that there are no differences in short term clinical outcomes between PJI patients with cultures positive for anaerobic vs aerobic organisms (38.9% vs 50% successfully treated). Inflammatory markers were higher in the aerobic group and patients in the anaerobic group tended to have fewer medical comorbidities. PJI caused by anaerobic organisms results in poor patient outcomes similar to infection caused by aerobic organisms. There are some differences in clinical presentation between the two groups that can be explained by the fact that anaerobic organisms are of low virulence and result in indolent infections causing longstanding symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a common complication of the knee and hip arthroplasty and represents a huge challenge for physicians. PJI raises serious social, economic and clinical concerns in the public health that need a comprehensive approach to better focus on proven strategies for disease prevention and treatment. History and clinical signs on joint site are useful means for suspecting PJI that need to be confirmed through major and minor diagnostic criteria. The pathogen isolation and the resulting antibiogram are crucial to guide the correct antibiotic strategy and together with surgical treatment (prosthesis revision and spacer implantation) represent the cornerstones to eradicate the infection before attempting a new arthroplasty. External fixator with removal of the spacer may be an option before performing a new arthroplasty when the infection does not heal. Arthrodesis may also be considered if the arthroplasty is contraindicated. Limb amputation is the last chance when pathogen eradication failed and might lead to life-threatening situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total ankle replacement (TAR) is a challenging complication, which often requires debridement and implant retention (DAIR) with or without polyethylene exchange, revision surgery, implantation of a cement spacer, conversion to arthrodesis, or even amputation. The optimum treatment for ankle PJI is not well established. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the clinical effectiveness of various treatment strategies for infected ankle prostheses. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library up to December 2018 for studies evaluating the impact of treatment in patient populations with infected ankle prostheses following TAR. Binary data were pooled after arcsine transformation. Six citations comprising 17 observational design comparisons were included. The reinfection rates (95% confidence intervals) for DAIR with or without polyethylene exchange, 1-stage revision, 2-stage revision, cement spacer, and arthrodesis were 39.8% (24.4 to 56.1), 0.0% (0.0 to 78.7), 0.0% (0.0 to 8.5), 0.2% (0.0 to 17.9), and 13.6% (0.0 to 45.8), respectively. Rates of amputation for DAIR with or without polyethylene exchange and cement spacer were 5.6% (0.0 to 16.9) and 22.2% (6.3 to 54.7), respectively. Measures of function, pain, and satisfaction could not be compared because of limited data. One- and 2-stage revision strategies seem to be associated with the lowest reinfection rates, but these findings are based on limited data. Arthrodesis and DAIR with or without polyethylene exchange appear to be commonly used in treating infected ankle prosthesis, but are associated with poor infection control. Clear gaps exist in the literature, and further research is warranted to evaluate treatment strategies for infected ankle prosthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication of total joint arthroplasty. Its management continues to be a major challenge for clinicians, patients, and healthcare providers with significant clinical and financial impacts. Effective management should follow a multidisciplinary approach using the best available evidence, as the combination of correct individualized diagnosis, surgical strategy and antibiotic therapy has been shown to have the highest success rates in the eradication of infection and ensure a favourable clinical outcome. The purpose of this review is to provide the reader with the current knowledge in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment strategies of PJI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) treatment decisions are traditionally based on treatment algorithms. There is, however, a lack of evidence to support the choice of these treatment algorithms. Therefore, we aimed to assess the one-year survival after PJI revision and compared different surgical strategies in a single-center setting. Revisions of the hip due to PJI performed at our institution between January 2008 and September 2021 with at least one-year of follow-up were identified. In total, 134 debridement, antibiotics, and implant retentions (DAIRs), 114 one-stage revisions, and 121 two-stage revisions were performed. Infections were classified as early, acute hematogenous, and chronic. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and cumulative incidence function. Predictors of outcomes were examined with Fine-Gray regressions and Cox proportional hazards regressions. Subdistribution hazard ratios and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. At one-year follow-up, 26.6% (CI 22.2 to 31.2%) of the patients had undergone reoperation and 7.9% (CI 5.4 to 10.9%) had died. The risk for reoperation was highest after DAIR (36.6%, CI 28.5 to 44.7%) and lowest after one-stage revision (20.2%, CI 13.4 to 28%). Within the early infections, the one-stage revision almost halved the risk of reoperation (HR 0.51, CI 0.31 to 0.84) with no added mortality risk (HR 1.05, CI 0.5 to 2.2), when compared to DAIR. By utilizing 1-stage revision over DAIR in early infections, it might be possible to improve the prognosis by decreasing the risk of reoperation without increasing mortality. However, as the patient selection is undeniably difficult, more research is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a complication associated with increased risk of death. There is limited knowledge about the association between infection before THA, and risk of revision due to PJI. We investigated the association between any previous hospital-diagnosed or community-treated infection 0 to 6 months before primary THA and the risk of revision. We obtained data on 58,449 patients who were operated with primary unilateral THA between 2010 and 2018 from the Danish Hip Arthroplasty Register. Information on previous infection diagnoses, redeemed antibiotic prescriptions up to 1 year before primary THA, intraoperative biopsies, and cohabitations was retrieved from Danish health registers. All patients had a 1-year follow-up. Primary outcome was revision due to PJI. Secondary outcome was any revision. We calculated the adjusted relative risk with 95% confidence intervals (CI), treating death as competing risk. Among 1,507 revisions identified, 536 were due to PJI with a cumulative incidence of 1.0% ([CI] 0.9 to 1.2) and 0.9% ([CI] 0.8 to 1.0) for patients who did and did not have previous infection. For any revision, the cumulative incidence was 3.1% ([CI] 2.9 to 3.4) and 2.4% ([CI] 2.3 to 2.6) for patients who did and did not have previous infection. The adjusted relative risk for PJI revision was 1.1 ([CI] 0.9 to 1.4) and for any revision 1.3 ([CI] 1.1 to 1.4) for patients who did have previous infection compared to those who did not. Previous hospital-diagnosed or community-treated infection 0 to 6 months before primary THA does not increase the risk of PJI revision. It may be associated with increased risk of any revision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe Staphylococcus lugdunensis prosthetic joint infection (PJI) management and outcome.Methods: Adults with proven S. lugdunensis PJI were included in a multicentric retrospective cohort. Determinants for failure were assessed by logistic regression and treatment failure-free survival curve analysis (Kaplan-Meier).Results: One hundred and eleven patients were included (median age 72.4 [IQR, 62.7-79.4] years), with a knee (n = 71, 64.0%) or hip (n = 39, 35.1%) PJI considered as chronic in 77 (69.4%) cases. Surgical management consisted in debridement, antibiotic with implant retention (DAIR; n = 60, 54.1%), two-stage (n = 28, 25.2%) or one-stage (n = 15, 13.5%) exchange. Total duration of antimicrobial therapy was 13.1 (IQR, 11.8-16.9) weeks. After a median follow-up of 99.9 (IQR, 53.9-178.1) weeks, 22 (19.8%) S. lugdunensis-related treatment failures were observed. Independent determinants for outcome were diabetes (OR, 3.741; p = 0.036), sinus tract (OR, 3.846; p = 0.032), DAIR (OR, 3.749; p = 0.039) and rifampin-based regimen (OR, 0.319; p = 0.043). Twenty-four (40.0%) of the 60 DAIR-treated patients experienced treatment failure, with hip location (OR, 3.273; p = 0.048), delay from prosthesis implantation (OR, 1.012 per month; p = 0.019), pre-surgical CRP level >115 mg/L (OR, 4.800; p = 0.039) and mobile component exchange (OR, 0.302; p = 0.069) constituting additional determinants of outcome.Conclusions: Staphylococcus lugdunensis PJI are difficult-to-treat infections, with pivotal roles of an optimal surgical management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The importance of preoperative urinary tract infection (UTI) in total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the timing of preoperative UTI diagnosis and association with prosthetic joint infection (PJI) and determine if antibiotics impact this risk.Methods: A national database was used to analyze patients undergoing THA and TKA diagnosed with a preoperative UTI. Timing of diagnosis was categorized by 1-week intervals prior to surgery. Matched cohorts without UTI were collected, and PJI rates within 2 years of surgery were compared. Patients who received antibiotic prescriptions were identified and compared to no prescription.Results: Preoperative UTI within 1 week of TKA was associated with higher rates of PJI (odds ratio [OR] 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-1.43, P < .001). Preoperative UTI within 1 week of THA (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.44-1.68, P < .001) and between 1-2 weeks prior to THA (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02-1.22, P = .022) was associated with significantly higher rates of PJI. UTI diagnosis at any other time interval did not reach statistical significance. Antibiotic prescription was not associated with lower rates of PJI.Conclusion: Patients with preoperative UTI within 1 week of TKA or within 2 weeks of THA have an increased risk of postoperative PJI. Antibiotics do not appear to mitigate risk.Level Of Evidence: Level III; Retrospective, database comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic joint infections (PJI) can be devastating postoperative complications after total joint replacement (TJR). The role of decolonization of Staphylococcus aureus carriers prior to surgery still remains unclear, and the most recent guidelines do not state a formal recommendation for such strategy. Our purpose was to seek further evidence supporting preoperative screening and S aureus decolonization in patients undergoing TJR. This was a quasiexperimental quality improvement study comparing a 5-year baseline of deep and organ-space PJIs (2005- 2010) to a 1-year intervention period (May 2015 to July 2016). The intervention consisted of nasal and throat screening for S aureus preoperatively and decolonization of carriers over 5 days prior to surgery. Prior to the intervention, we identified 42 deep and/or organ-space PJIs in 8,505 patients undergoing TJR (0.5%). S aureus was the causal microorganism in 28 of 42 (66.6%) cases. During the intervention, 22.5% (424 of 1,883) of patients were S aureus carriers. The PJI rate was similar overall (0.4%, 7 of 1,883; odds ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-1.67; P =.58), but there was a significant reduction in S aureus PJI to only 1 case during the intervention (odds ratio, 0.15; 95% confidence interval, 0.004-0.94; P =.039). Active screening for S aureus and decolonization of carriers prior to TJR was associated with a reduction in PJI due to S aureus , but no changes in overall PJI rates were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]