ABSTRACTProsthetic joint infections remain a major complication of arthroplasty. At present, local and international guidelines recommend cefazolin as a surgical antibiotic prophylaxis at the time of arthroplasty. This retrospective cohort study conducted across 10 hospitals over a 3-year period (January 2006 to December 2008) investigated the epidemiology and microbiological etiology of prosthetic joint infections. There were 163 cases of prosthetic joint infection identified. From a review of the microbiological culture results, methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated in 45% of infections. In addition, polymicrobial infections, particularly those involving Gram-negative bacilli and enterococcal species, were common (36%). The majority (88%) of patients received cefazolin as an antibiotic prophylaxis at the time of arthroplasty. In 63% of patients in this cohort, the microorganisms subsequently obtained were not susceptible to the antibiotic prophylaxis administered. The results of this study highlight the importance of ongoing reviews of the local ecology of prosthetic joint infection, demonstrating that the spectrum of pathogens involved is broad. The results should inform empirical antibiotic therapy. This report also provokes discussion about infection control strategies, including changing surgical antibiotic prophylaxis to a combination of glycopeptide and cefazolin, to reduce the incidence of infections due to methicillin-resistant staphylococci.

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There is growing evidence of the efficacy of treating early staphylococcal infections of prosthetic joints with surgical debridement and prosthesis retention, combined with oral antibiotic regimens that include rifampicin in combination with a fluoroquinolone. With rising rates of fluoroquinolone-resistant staphylococci, evidence concerning the efficacy of alternative combinations of antibiotics is required. Twenty patients with staphylococcal prosthetic joint infections who had been treated with surgical debridement and prosthesis retention, and a combination of rifampicin and fusidic acid were analysed. The mean duration of symptoms before initial debridement was 16 (range 2-75) days. The median time of follow-up was 32 (range 6-76) months. Treatment failure occurred in two patients. The cumulative risk of treatment failure after 1 year was 11.76% (95% CI 3.08-39.40%). Two patients had their treatment changed because of nausea. Ten of 11 patients with infections involving methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus had successful outcomes. Debridement without prosthesis removal, in combination with rifampicin and fusidic acid treatment, was effective and should be considered for patients with early staphylococcal prosthetic joint infections, including those with infections involving fluoroquinolone-resistant organisms.

Resistance in virus-infected stem cell transplant recipients illustrates the need for surveillance.

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