Modified Protocol Decreases Surgical Site Infections after Total Knee Arthroplasty

Cost-effectiveness of Preoperative Staphylococcus aureus Screening and Decolonization in Cochlear Implantation

Objective

Infection following cochlear implantation is medically and economically devastating. The cost-effectiveness (CE) of colonization screening and decolonization for infection prophylaxis in cochlear implantation has not been examined.

Study Design

An analytic observational study of data collected from purchasing records and the literature.

Methods

Costs of Staphylococcus aureus colonization screening and decolonization were acquired from purchasing records and the literature. Infection rates after cochlear implantation and average total costs for evaluation and treatment were obtained from a review of the literature. A break-even analysis was performed to determine the required absolute risk reduction (ARR) in infection rate to make colonization screening or decolonization CE.

Results

Nasal screening ($144.07) is CE if the initial infection rate (1.7%) had an ARR of 0.60%. Decolonization with 2% intranasal mupirocin ointment ($5.09) was CE (ARR, 0.02%). A combined decolonization technique (2% intranasal mupirocin ointment, chlorhexidine wipes, chlorhexidine shower, and prophylactic vancomycin: $37.57) was CE (ARR, 0.16%). Varying infection rate as high as 15% demonstrated that CE did not change by maintaining an ARR of 0.16%. CE of the most expensive decolonization protocol was enhanced as the cost of infection treatment increased, with an ARR of 0.03% at $125,000.

Conclusions

Prophylactic S aureus decolonization techniques can be CE for preventing infection following cochlear implantation. Decolonization with mupirocin is economically justified if it prevents at least 1 infection out of 5000 implants. S aureus colonization screening needed high reductions in infection rate to be CE.

Multifaceted aseptic protocol decreases surgical site infections following hip arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION

We investigate the effectiveness of a comprehensive aseptic protocol in reducing surgical site infection (SSI) after hip arthroplasty in a single medical centre with a high prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

METHODS

A prospectively collected database of all patients undergoing hip arthroplasty in a single centre between 2005 and 2011 was reviewed for SSI using Centers for Disease Control (CDC) criteria and AAOS guidelines. All patients were administered an aseptic protocol consisting of: preoperative 2% mupirocin nasal ointment and 0.4% chlorhexidine surgical-site wipes; modified instrument care; perioperative prophylactic vancomycin and cefazolin; and surgical-site skin preparation with chlorhexidine, alcohol and iodophor. We compare our protocol hip arthroplasty SSI rate to our institutional historical control and to contemporary literature.

RESULTS

Among 774 patients, 69% were ASA>2, 45% had BMI≥30 and 10.3% had rheumatoid arthritis. We found an overall 0.39% infection rate; significantly lower than our institutional historical control (0.39% vs. 2.60%, p<0.001, OR 0.15, NNT 200) and significantly lower than 6 published reports (p<0.001-0.022, OR 0.16-0.22). Compared to these cohorts, significantly more of our patients were ASA>2, had BMI≥30 or had rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with 3 or more identifiable risk factors were at an increased risk of SSI compared to those with 2 or fewer risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our aseptic protocol decreases SSI in a high-risk population undergoing hip arthroplasty in a medical centre and community with a high prevalence of MRSA.