Suppressive Oral Antibiotics in Orthopaedic Prosthetic Joint Infections

Abstract

In orthopaedics, the use of oral suppressive antibiotics for the treatment of implant related infection was a treatment regimen that had been reserved only for patients who were unable to tolerate surgery. Recent literature has begun to demonstrate the benefits of utilizing suppressive antibiotics as an adjuvant treatment in addition to surgical debridement. The use of oral suppressive antibiotics carries with it inherent hurdles regarding dosing, tolerance, side effects, and cost that need to be considered. The purpose of this review is to act as a guide for orthopaedic surgeons and medical providers to allow them to safely utilize oral suppressive antibiotic regimens as part of their treatment algorithm.