Postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in total hip and knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Effect of single versus multiple prophylactic antibiotic doses on prosthetic joint infections following primary total hip arthroplasty in patients with osteoarthritis at public and private hospitals in Denmark: protocol for a nationwide cross-over, cluster randomised, non-inferiority trial [The Pro-Hip-Quality Trial]

INTRODUCTION

A feared complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is prosthetic joint infection (PJI), associated with high morbidity and mortality. Prophylactic antibiotics can reduce the risk of PJI. However, there is no consensus on the dosages and current recommendations are based on a low evidence level. The objective is to compare the effect of a single versus multiple doses of prophylactic antibiotics administered within 24 hours on PJI.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The study is designed as a cross-over, cluster randomised, non-inferiority trial. All clinical centres use both antibiotic practices (1 year of each intervention). All Danish orthopaedic surgery departments will be involved: Based on quality databases, 2-year cohorts of approximately 20 000 primary THAs conducted at 39 public and private hospitals, will be included.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

age ≥18 years, all indications for THA except patients operated due to acute or sequelae from proximal femoral or pelvic fractures or bone tumour or metastasis. The primary outcome is PJI within 90 days after primary THA. Secondary outcomes include (1) serious adverse events, (2) potential PJI, (3) length of hospitalisation stay, (4) cardiovascular events, (5) hospital-treated infections, (6) community-based antibiotic use, (7) opioid use and (8) use of acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. All outcome measures will be extracted from national databases. Analyses will be based on the intention-to-treat population. Non-inferiority will be shown if the upper limit of the two-sided 95% CI for the OR is less than 1.32 for the single dose as compared with multiple doses. The results will establish best practice on antibiotic prophylaxis dosages in the future.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study has been approved by Committees on Health Research Ethics for The Capital Region of Denmark (21069108) and The Danish Medicines Agency (2021091723). All results will be presented in peer-reviewed medical journals and international conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05530551.

The use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement and systemic antibiotic prophylactic use in 2,971,357 primary total knee arthroplasties from 2010 to 2020: an international register-based observational study among countries in Africa, Europe, North America, and Oceania

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) and systemic antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) have been used to reduce periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) rates. We investigated the use of ALBC and SAP in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This observational study is based on 2,971,357 primary TKAs reported in 2010-2020 to national/regional joint arthroplasty registries in Australia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA. Aggregate-level data on trends and types of bone cement, antibiotic agents, and doses and duration of SAP used was extracted from participating registries.

RESULTS

ALBC was used in 77% of the TKAs with variation ranging from 100% in Norway to 31% in the USA. Palacos R+G was the most common (62%) ALBC type used. The primary antibiotic used in ALBC was gentamicin (94%). Use of ALBC in combination with SAP was common practice (77%). Cefazolin was the most common (32%) SAP agent. The doses and duration of SAP used varied from one single preoperative dosage as standard practice in Bolzano, Italy (98%) to 1-day 4 doses in Norway (83% of the 40,709 TKAs reported to the Norwegian arthroplasty register).

CONCLUSION

The proportion of ALBC usage in primary TKA varies internationally, with gentamicin being the most common antibiotic. ALBC in combination with SAP was common practice, with cefazolin the most common SAP agent. The type of ALBC and type, dose, and duration of SAP varied among participating countries.

Antibody-Drug Conjugates to Treat Bacterial Biofilms via Targeting and Extracellular Drug Release

The treatment of implant-associated bacterial infections and biofilms is an urgent medical need and a grand challenge because biofilms protect bacteria from the immune system and harbor antibiotic-tolerant persister cells. This need is addressed herein through an engineering of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that contain an anti-neoplastic drug mitomycin C, which is also a potent antimicrobial against biofilms. The ADCs designed herein release the conjugated drug without cell entry, via a novel mechanism of drug release which likely involves an interaction of ADC with the thiols on the bacterial cell surface. ADCs targeted toward bacteria are superior by the afforded antimicrobial effects compared to the non-specific counterpart, in suspension and within biofilms, in vitro, and in an implant-associated murine osteomyelitis model in vivo. The results are important in developing ADC for a new area of application with a significant translational potential, and in addressing an urgent medical need of designing a treatment of bacterial biofilms.

Introducing A Day-Case Shoulder Arthroplasty Pathway In The UK - How We Did It

Background

As the demand for elective orthopaedics grows, day-case arthroplasty is gaining popularity. The aim of this study was to create a safe and reproducible pathway for day-case shoulder arthroplasty (DCSA) based upon a literature review and discussion with the local multidisciplinary team (MDT).

Methods

A literature review was performed using OVID MEDLINE and Embase databases reporting 90-day complication and admission rates following DCSA. Minimum follow-up was 30 days. Day-case was defined as discharge on the same day of surgery.

Results

The literature review revealed a mean 90-day complication rate of 7.7% [range, 0-15.9%] and mean 90-day readmission rate of 2.5% [range 0-9.3%]. A pilot protocol was devised based upon the literature review and consisted of 5 phases: (1) pre-operative assessment, (2) intra-operative phase, (3) post-operative phase, (4) follow-up, and (5) readmission protocol. This was presented, discussed, amended, and ultimately ratified by the local MDT. In May 2021 the unit successfully completed its first day-case shoulder arthroplasty.

Discussion

This study proposes a safe and reproducible pathway for DCSA. Patient selection, well-defined protocols and communication within the MDT are important factors to achieve this. Further studies with extended follow-up will be needed to gauge long-term success within our unit.

High Risk for Persistent Peri-Prosthetic Infection and Amputation in Mega-Prosthesis Reconstruction

A peri-prosthetic joint infection is a feared complication after mega-prosthesis reconstruction of large bone defects. The current study investigates how patients operated with a mega-prosthesis due to sarcoma, metastasis, or trauma, are affected by a deep infection focusing on re-operations, risk for persistent infection, arthrodesis, or subsequent amputation. Time to infection, causative bacterial strains, mode of treatment and length of hospital stay are also reported. A total of 114 patients with 116 prostheses were evaluated, a median of 7.6 years (range 3.8-13.7) after surgery, of which 35 (30%) were re-operated due to a peri-prosthetic infection. Of the infected patients, the prosthesis was still in place in 51%, 37% were amputated, and 9% had an arthrodesis. The infection was persistent in 26% of the infected patients at follow-up. The mean total length of hospital stay was 68 (median 60) days and the mean number of reoperations was 8.9 (median 6.0). The mean length of antibiotic treatment was 340 days (median 183). Coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus were the most frequent bacterial agents isolated in deep cultures. No MRSA- or ESBL-producing Enterobacterales were found but vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium was isolated in one patient. In summary, there is a high risk for peri-prosthetic infection in mega-prostheses, resulting in persistent infection or amputation relatively often.

Protective effect of additional cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide PR-39 on prosthetic-joint infections

BACKGROUND

Prosthetic-joint infection (PJI) is one of the severest complications after arthroplasty. However, antibiotics are not effective in the bacteria in biofilm outside the prosthetic-joint. Antimicrobial peptides have an efficient antimicrobial activity in staphylococcus aureus compared with conventional antibiotics.

METHODS

Bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) were isolated, cultured and transfected with cathelicidins antimicrobial peptides proline-arginine-rich 39 amino acid peptide (PR-39) lentivirus. The expression of PR-39 gene in BMSCs was detected by RT-PCR, and the antibacterial activity of PR-39 was measured by agar diffusion method. The transfection efficiency was detected by fluorescence microscopy. The infection model of artificial knee joint in rabbits were established. Kirschner wire was used as the knee joint implant to implant the distal femur through the femoral intercondylar fossa of rabbits. 24 rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups for the above operations: group A was inoculated 0.5 mL into the joint cavity immediately after the incision was sutured 1 × 10⁷ Staphylococcus aureus of colony forming unit (CFU), group B was inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus and PR-39. After operation, the wound conditions and histological changes were observed by X-ray and optical microscope respectively, CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were measured by test assay.

RESULTS

The transfection efficiency of lentivirus vectortransfected BMSCs was 74.09%. The supernatant of lentivirus vector had obvious inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, and the antibacterial rate was 98.43%. 100% infection observed in group A while few infection observed in group B; serum CRP and ESR at a high level in group A while decreased in group B after operation. There were no significant difference in CRP and ESR between the pLV/PR-39 group and pLV/EGFP group at day 1 and 3 respectively after surgery. However, CRP and ESR in the pLV/PR-39 groupwere significantly lower than the pLV/EGFP group at day 7 and 14 respectively after operation.

CONCLUSIONS

Rabbits planted BMSCs expressing PR-39 were significantly increased resistance to Staphylococcus aureus in PJI than control group thus showing great potential for preventing implant-associated infection. It will provide a potential new therapeutic agent for implant-associated infection.

International Survey of Practice for Prophylactic Systemic Antibiotic Therapy in Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

(1) Background: Prophylactic systemic antibiotics are acknowledged to be an important part of mitigating prosthetic joint infections. Controversy persists regarding optimal antibiotic regimes. We sought to evaluate current international antibiotics guidelines for total joint arthroplasty (TJA) of the hip and knee. (2) Methods: 42 arthroplasty societies across 6 continents were contacted and their published literature reviewed. (3) Results: 17 societies had guidelines; of which 11 recommended an antibiotic agent or antibiotic class (10—cephalosporin; 1—cloxacillin); 15 recommended antibiotic infusion within an hour of incision and 10 advised for post-operative doses (8—up to 24 h; 1—up to 36 h; 1—up to 48 h). (4) Conclusions: Prophylactic antibiotic guidelines for TJA are often absent or heterogenous in their advice.

The effects of avoiding extended antimicrobial drain prophylaxis on Clostridioides difficile and postprocedural infection rates: a 5-year retrospective

OBJECTIVE

Postprocedural infection is a consequential complication of neurosurgical intervention. Periprocedural antimicrobial prophylaxis is routinely administered to prevent infection, and in some cases, continued for extended periods while surgical drains remain in place. However, there is little evidence that extended antimicrobial administration is necessary to reduce postprocedural infection, and extended antimicrobials can be associated with harm, such as Clostridioides difficile infection. The authors sought to evaluate whether shortening the duration of postprocedural antimicrobial prophylaxis would decrease the incidence of C. difficile infection without increasing the incidence of postprocedural infection.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, two general neurosurgical cohorts were examined. In one cohort, postoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis was limited to 24 hours; in the other, some patients received extended postoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis while surgical drains or external ventricular drains (EVDs) remained in place. Rates of infection with C. difficile as well as postprocedural infection after surgery and EVD placement were compared.

RESULTS

Seven thousand two hundred four patients undergoing 8586 surgical procedures and 413 EVD placements were reviewed. The incidence of C. difficile infection decreased significantly from 0.5% per procedural encounter to 0.07% with the discontinuation of extended postprocedural antibiotics within 90 days of a procedure. Rates of postprocedural infection and EVD infection did not significantly change. Results were similar in subgroups of patients with closed suction drains as well as cranial and spine subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Discontinuation of extended antimicrobial prophylaxis was associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of C. difficile infection without a concomitant change in postprocedural infections or EVD-associated infection. This study provides evidence in support of specialtfy-wide discontinuation of extended postoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis, even in the presence of closed suction drains.

Comparison of Prophylactic Intravenous Antibiotic Regimens After Endoprosthetic Reconstruction for Lower Extremity Bone Tumors: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Question

Can a 5-day regimen of postoperative, prophylactic, intravenous antibiotics reduce the rate of surgical site infections in patients with a lower extremity bone tumor undergoing complex endoprosthetic reconstruction compared with a 1-day regimen?

Findings

In this randomized clinical trial including 604 patients in the primary analysis, the 5-day regimen did not reduce the rate of surgical site infection compared with the 1-day regimen, although it resulted in a higher rate of antibiotic-related complications, notably Clostridioides difficile–associated colitis.

Meaning

The results of this study suggest that prolonging use of postoperative antibiotics beyond 1 day does not reduce the rate of surgical site infection but increases the risk of clinically significant antibiotic-related complications.

Importance

The use of perioperative, prophylactic, intravenous antibiotics is standard practice to reduce the risk of surgical site infection after oncologic resection and complex endoprosthetic reconstruction for lower extremity bone tumors. However, evidence guiding the duration of prophylactic treatment remains limited.

Objective

To assess the effect of a 5-day regimen of postoperative, prophylactic, intravenous antibiotics compared with a 1-day regimen on the rate of surgical site infections within 1 year after surgery.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This randomized clinical superiority trial was performed at 48 clinical sites in 12 countries from January 1, 2013, to October 29, 2019. The trial included patients with a primary bone tumor or a soft tissue sarcoma that had invaded the femur or tibia or oligometastatic bone disease of the femur or tibia with expected survival of at least 1 year who required surgical management by excision and endoprosthetic reconstruction. A total of 611 patients were enrolled, and 7 were excluded for ineligibility.

Interventions

A 1- or 5-day regimen of postoperative prophylactic intravenous cephalosporin (cefazolin or cefuroxime) that began within 8 hours after skin closure and was administered every 8 hours thereafter. Those randomized to the 1-day regimen received identical saline doses every 8 hours for the remaining 4 days; patients, care providers, and outcomes assessors were blinded to treatment regimen.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome in this superiority trial was a surgical site infection (superficial incisional, deep incisional, or organ space) classified according to the criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within 1 year after surgery. Secondary outcomes included antibiotic-related complications, unplanned additional operations, oncologic and functional outcomes, and mortality.

Results

Of the 604 patients included in the final analysis (mean [SD] age, 41.2 [21.9] years; 361 [59.8%] male; 114 [18.9%] Asian, 43 [7.1%] Black, 34 [5.6%] Hispanic, 15 [2.5%] Indigenous, 384 [63.8%] White, and 12 [2.0%] other), 293 were randomized to a 5-day regimen and 311 to a 1-day regimen. A surgical site infection occurred in 44 patients (15.0%) allocated to the 5-day regimen and in 52 patients (16.7%) allocated to the 1-day regimen (hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.62-1.40; P = .73). Antibiotic-related complications occurred in 15 patients (5.1%) in the 5-day regimen and in 5 patients (1.6%) allocated to the 1-day regimen (hazard ratio, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.17-8.98; P = .02). Other secondary outcomes did not differ significantly between treatment groups.

Conclusions and Relevance

This randomized clinical trial did not confirm the superiority of a 5-day regimen of postoperative intravenous antibiotics over a 1-day regimen in preventing surgical site infections after surgery for lower extremity bone tumors that required an endoprosthesis. The 5-day regimen group had significantly more antibiotic-related complications.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01479283

Perioperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis: Single and 24-Hour Antibiotic Dosages are Equally Effective at Preventing Periprosthetic Joint Infection in Total Joint Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis is used to prevent surgical site infection and periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Secondary to a national shortage of cefazolin, patients at our institution began receiving a single preoperative prophylactic antibiotic dose for primary TJA and no 24-hour postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis. The purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy of single-dose antibiotic use versus 24-hour dosing of prophylactic antibiotics in the prevention of acute PJI and short-term complications after primary TJA.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 3317 patients undergoing primary TJA performed from January 2015 to December 2019 identified 554 patients who received a single dose of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis during the antibiotic shortage and 2763 patients who received post-TJA 24-hour antibiotic prophylaxis before the shortage. Patient records were evaluated for acute PJI, superficial infection, 90-day reoperation, and 90-day complications.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between single-dose and 24-hour antibiotic groups. Similarly, there were no significant differences in rates of acute PJI (0.7% vs 0.2%; P = .301), superficial infection (2.4% vs 1.4%; P = .221), 90-day reoperation (2.1% vs 1.1%; P = .155), and 90-day complications (9.9% vs 7.9%; P = .169) between single and 24-hour antibiotic dose. Post hoc power analysis demonstrated adequate sample size, beta = 93%.

CONCLUSION

Single-dose prophylactic antibiotics did not lead to an increased risk of acute PJI or short-term complications after TJA. Our study suggests that administration of a single antibiotic dose may be safely considered in patients undergoing routine primary TJA.

Clindamycin-Based 3D-Printed and Electrospun Coatings for Treatment of Implant-Related Infections

This study presents the development and characterisation of two novel bioactive coatings deposited on TiAlV and AISI 316LVM substrates. The coatings were prepared using 3D printing and electrospinning. The 3D-printed coating consisted of the cellulose nanofibril suspension, alginate, and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), while CMC and polyethylene oxide were used to prepare the electrospun coating. Both coatings were loaded with the antibiotic clindamycin (CLIN), which is a bacteriostatic lincosamide known for its activity against streptococci, staphylococci, pneumococci, Bacteroides species, and other anaerobes. Initial characterisation of the coatings was performed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, the contact angle measurements, swelling rate, and biodegradability of the coatings were investigated. The released concentration of CLIN in PBS (pH = 7.4 at 25 °C) was determined by UV-VIS spectrophotometry. The coatings’ biocompatibility was determined using an MTT (3(4,5 dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay using an osteoblast cell culture (hFOB 1.19, ATCC CRL 11372).

Similar risk of complete revision for infection with single-dose versus multiple-dose antibiotic prophylaxis in primary arthroplasty of the hip and knee: results of an observational cohort study in the Dutch Arthroplasty Register in 242,179 patients

Background and purpose - The optimal type and duration of antibiotic prophylaxis for primary arthroplasty of the hip and knee are subject to debate. We compared the risk of complete revision (obtained by a 1- or 2-stage procedure) for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after primary total hip or knee arthroplasty between patients receiving a single dose of prophylactic antibiotics and patients receiving multiple doses of antibiotics for prevention of PJI. Patients and methods - A cohort of 130,712 primary total hip and 111,467 knee arthroplasties performed between 2011 and 2015 in the Netherlands was analyzed. We linked data from the Dutch arthroplasty register to a survey collected across all Dutch institutions on hospital-level antibiotic prophylaxis policy. We used restricted cubic spline Poisson models adjusted for hospital clustering to compare the risk of revision for infection according to type and duration of antibiotic prophylaxis received. Results - For total hip arthroplasties, the rates of revision for infection were 31/10,000 person-years (95% CI 28-35), 39 (25-59), and 23 (15-34) in the groups that received multiple doses of cefazolin, multiple doses of cefuroxime, and a single dose of cefazolin, respectively. The rates for knee arthroplasties were 27/10,000 person-years (95% CI 24-31), 40 (24-62), and 24 (16-36). Similar risk of complete revision for infection among antibiotic prophylaxis regimens was found when adjusting for confounders. Interpretation - In a large observational cohort we found no apparent association between the type or duration of antibiotic prophylaxis and the risk of complete revision for infection. This does question whether there is any advantage to the use of prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis beyond a single dose.

Identifying targets for improvement using a nationally standardized survey: Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis in orthopedic surgery

BACKGROUND

Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) is commonly administered in orthopedic procedures. Research regarding SAP appropriateness for specific orthopedic procedures is limited and is required to facilitate targeted orthopedic prescriber behavior change.

OBJECTIVES

To describe SAP prescribing and appropriateness for orthopedic procedures in Australian hospitals.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Multicenter, national, quality improvement study with retrospective analysis of data collected from Australian hospitals via Surgical National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (Surgical NAPS) audits from January 1, 2016, to April 15, 2019, were analyzed.

METHODS

Logistic regression identified hospital, patient and surgical factors associated with appropriateness. Adjusted appropriateness was calculated from the multivariable model. Additional subanalyses were conducted on smaller subsets to calculate the adjusted appropriateness for specific orthopedic procedures.

RESULTS

In total, 140 facilities contributed to orthopedic audits in the Surgical NAPS, including 4,032 orthopedic surgical episodes and 6,709 prescribed doses. Overall appropriateness was low, 58.0% (n = 3,894). This differed for prescribed procedural (n = 3,978, 64.7%) and postprocedural doses (n = 2,731, 48.3%). The most common reasons for inappropriateness, when prophylaxis was required, was timing for procedural doses (50.9%) and duration for postprocedural prescriptions (49.8%). The adjusted appropriateness of each orthopedic procedure group was low for procedural SAP (knee surgery, 54.1% to total knee joint replacement, 74.1%). The adjusted appropriateness for postprocedural prescription was also low (from hand surgery, 40.7%, to closed reduction fractures, 68.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Orthopedic surgical specialties demonstrated differences across procedural and postprocedural appropriateness. The metric of appropriateness identifies targets for quality improvement and is meaningful for clinicians. Targeted quality improvement projects for orthopedic specialties need to be developed to support optimization of antimicrobial use.

Nationwide Organism Susceptibility Patterns to Common Preoperative Prophylactic Antibiotics: What Are We Covering?

BACKGROUND

Many periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are caused by organisms not susceptible to first-generation cephalosporins. We sought to evaluate the national susceptibility patterns of organisms to cefazolin and, or oxacillin, clindamycin, and vancomycin using antibiogram data.

METHODS

Publically available regional and state antibiograms were evaluated for antibiotic susceptibility patterns to commonly infecting gram-positive organisms. The number of isolates tested in each antibiogram and percent of strains susceptible to oxacillin, clindamycin, and vancomycin were recorded. Oxacillin is used as a surrogate to cefazolin in antibiograms. A comparison of antibiotic susceptibilities was performed.

RESULTS

Seven state and 38 regional antibiograms were reviewed. Oxacillin was a sensitive antibiotic in 99.2 ± 4.8% of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) isolates, 0 ± 0% of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates, 44.5 ± 13.7% of coagulase-negative staphylococcus organism isolates (CNS), and 30.6 ± 10.5% of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates. Clindamycin was a sensitive antibiotic in 75.8 ± 8.4% of MSSA isolates, 60.2 ± 13.2% of MRSA isolates, 60.3 ± 11.4% of CNS isolates, and 56.2 ± 6.5% of S epidermidis isolates. Vancomycin was a sensitive antibiotic in 99.9 ± 0.4% of MSSA isolates, 99.8 ± 0.4% of MRSA isolates, 99.8 ± 0.5% of CNS isolates, and 99.6 ± 0.7% of S epidermidis isolates. Clindamycin was significantly less sensitive in MSSA isolates as compared with oxacillin and vancomycin (P < .0001). Oxacillin was significantly less sensitive in CNS, S epidermidis, and MRSA isolates as compared with clindamycin and vancomycin (P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

The national clindamycin susceptibility pattern is limited to MSSA and may not have an optimal susceptibility profile suitable for use as a prophylactic antibiotic. Cefazolin continues to have excellent coverage against MSSA.

Is There a Difference in Infection Risk Between Single and Multiple Doses of Prophylactic Antibiotics? A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The prevention of surgical site infection guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently recommended that only a single dose of preoperative antibiotics be administered to patients undergoing clean-contaminated procedures based on data from a variety of surgical disciplines. For orthopaedic procedures, where postoperative infections can have significant consequences, the existing evidence for this recommendation is widely debated.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

Is there a difference in postoperative infection risk when utilizing a single dose of preoperative antibiotics compared with multiple doses of perioperative antibiotics for orthopaedic procedures where implants are placed?

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane were systematically reviewed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of a single dose of preoperative antibiotics compared with pre- and postoperative prophylaxis from 1980 to 2017 for all orthopaedic procedures where implants were being placed. Infection (both superficial and deep) as a primary outcome through all available followup was required for inclusion. Fourteen RCTs detailing 9691 orthopaedic procedures were included for analysis, including seven arthroplasty, one spine, and six general orthopaedic trials (two specific to hip fracture fixation). Pooled infection outcomes were analyzed with random-effects modeling in light of study heterogeneity. Bias was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool as well as a funnel plot for publication bias, and quality of evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Bias was largely uncertain; however, a high risk of bias was noted in four studies. No significant overall publication bias was noted. The quality of evidence was determined to be very low based on the GRADE tool, downgraded based on risk of bias, inconsistency, and imprecision. Despite the quality of evidence, the data were pooled in light of the current recommendations from the CDC to critically evaluate the recommendation that a single dose of antibiotics be utilized.

RESULTS

There were no differences in infection risk between single- versus multiple-dose groups (single: 83 of 4263 [2%], multiple: 101 of 5428 [2%]; odds ratio, 0.92 [95% confidence interval, 0.56-1.51]; p = 0.740, I = 36% for statistical heterogeneity).

CONCLUSIONS

There is no difference in infection risk between a single dose and multiple doses of perioperative antibiotics for orthopaedic procedures where implants are utilized, consistent with recent recommendations. However, the quality of evidence for orthopaedic procedures is low, and a randomized study with a sufficient sample size is needed to examine the issue before universal adoption of a single antibiotic dose.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level I, therapeutic study.

Antibacterial coating of implants: are we missing something?

Implant-related infection is one of the leading reasons for failure in orthopaedics and trauma, and results in high social and economic costs. Various antibacterial coating technologies have proven to be safe and effective both in preclinical and clinical studies, with post-surgical implant-related infections reduced by 90% in some cases, depending on the type of coating and experimental setup used. Economic assessment may enable the cost-to-benefit profile of any given antibacterial coating to be defined, based on the expected infection rate with and without the coating, the cost of the infection management, and the cost of the coating. After reviewing the latest evidence on the available antibacterial coatings, we quantified the impact caused by delaying their large-scale application. Considering only joint arthroplasties, our calculations indicated that for an antibacterial coating, with a final user's cost price of €600 and able to reduce post-surgical infection by 80%, each year of delay to its large-scale application would cause an estimated 35 200 new cases of post-surgical infection in Europe, equating to additional hospital costs of approximately €440 million per year. An adequate reimbursement policy for antibacterial coatings may benefit patients, healthcare systems, and related research, as could faster and more affordable regulatory pathways for the technologies still in the pipeline. This could significantly reduce the social and economic burden of implant-related infections in orthopaedics and trauma. Cite this article: C. L. Romanò, H. Tsuchiya, I. Morelli, A. G. Battaglia, L. Drago. Antibacterial coating of implants: are we missing something? Bone Joint Res 2019;8:199-206. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.85.BJR-2018-0316.

Causes and Frequencies of Reoperations After Endoprosthetic Reconstructions for Extremity Tumor Surgery: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Excision of bone tumors and endoprosthetic reconstruction allow patients early weightbearing and a potential functional advantage compared with amputation. These reconstructions do not restore the limb to normal status, however, and patients are subject to complications that may result in revision or loss of the limb. Because better understanding of these complications based on current information might help the patient and surgeon in decision-making, we undertook a systematic review of studies published on this topic.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

(1) What are the primary modes and proportion of failure of tumor endoprostheses in patients undergoing reconstruction after excision of primary extremity bone sarcomas?

METHODS

We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for all studies published from April 15, 1998, to April 15, 2018. Three reviewers independently reviewed studies reporting endoprosthetic reconstruction survival and events requiring revision for primary extremity bone tumors treated with endoprosthetic reconstruction for inclusion and performed independent data extraction. We excluded all studies with fewer than five patients, any systematic review/meta-analyses, and any study not reporting on primary extremity bone tumors. All discrepancies were resolved by the study's senior author. Data extracted from included studies were any reoperation event for wound dehiscence, any operative fixation for a pathologic fracture, and any revision of the primary endoprosthesis for implant wear or breakage, deep infection not amenable to prosthesis retention, or for local recurrence. We assessed the overall quality of the evidence with the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) approach with a higher MINORS score representative of a more methodologically rigorous study with a total possible score of 16 points for noncomparative and 24 points for comparative studies. Forty-nine studies met criteria for inclusion from an initial search return of 904 studies, of which no studies were randomized controlled trials. From a total patient population of 2721, there was a mean followup of 93 months (range, 1-516 months) with loss to followup or death occurring in 447 of 2118 (21%) patients with six studies not providing loss to followup data. The mean MINORS score was 14 for prospective studies and 11 for retrospective studies.

RESULTS

Overall, there were 1283 reoperations among the 2721 (47%) patients. Reoperation for mechanical endoprosthetic events (soft tissue dehiscence or periarticular soft tissue instability, aseptic loosening, or implant wear/fracture) occurred in 907 of 2721 (33%) patients. Aseptic loosening occurred at a mean of 75 months (range, 1-376 months) in 212 of 315 patients (67%). Deep infection requiring removal of the initial prosthesis occurred in 247 of 2721 (9%) patients with deep infection occurring at a mean of 24 months (range, 1-372 months) in the 190 infections (77%) with time to infection data available. Local recurrence rates requiring revision or amputation occurred in 129 (5%) of all patients. There was an overall primary endoprosthesis survival rate without any surgical reintervention of 63% among reporting studies at a mean of 79 months followup.

CONCLUSIONS

Failures of endoprosthetic reconstructions after extremity tumor surgery are common, most often resulting from implant wear or fracture, aseptic loosening, and infection. Importantly, the aggregated data are the first to attempt to quantify the time to specific complication types within this patient population. Deep infection not amenable to endoprosthesis retention appears to occur approximately 2 years postoperatively in most patients, with aseptic loosening occurring most commonly at 75 months. Although endoprosthetic reconstruction is one of the most common forms of reconstruction after bone tumor resection, the quality of published evidence regarding this procedure is of low quality with high loss to followup and data quality limiting interstudy analysis. The quality of the evidence is low with high loss to followup and inconsistent reporting of times to reintervention events. Although the most common modes of endoprosthetic failure in this population are well known, creation of quality prospective, collaborative databases would assist in clarifying and informing important elements of the followup process for these patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, therapeutic study.

Perioperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Single Dose Is as Effective as Multiple Doses

BACKGROUND

Recent surgical site infection prevention guidelines recommend that no additional prophylactic antibiotics be administered after the surgical incision is closed in clean-contaminated procedures. Although there is ample evidence to support this recommendation in non-arthroplasty surgery, there is concern about extending these guidelines to surgical procedures with an implant such as total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of a single dose of prophylactic antibiotics with that of multiple doses of antibiotics for prevention of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in patients undergoing TJA.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 20,682 primary TJAs carried out from 2006 to 2017 was performed. Patients who received a single dose of prophylactic antibiotics (n = 4,523) were compared with patients who received multiple doses of antibiotics (n = 16,159). A previously validated PJI risk score was assigned to each patient. Patients who developed PJI within 1 year were identified, and a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to control for potential confounders. Analyses using propensity score matching and regression adjustment were also performed.

RESULTS

The overall PJI rate was 0.60% (27 of 4,523) for patients who received a single dose of antibiotics compared with 0.88% (142 of 16,159) for those who received multiple doses. There was no difference in the PJI rate between patients who received a single dose of antibiotics and those who received multiple doses in the univariate (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.674, p = 0.064), multivariate (OR = 0.755, p = 0.205), or propensity score matched analysis (OR = 0.746, p = 0.277). Furthermore, multiple doses did not demonstrate any additional benefit for patients with a high preoperative risk of PJI (p = 0.136).

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports the notion that the administration of additional antibiotics following skin closure may not be required for primary TJA, regardless of the patient's preoperative risk of PJI. The findings of this large retrospective study highlight the need for a randomized, prospective study on which to base guidelines.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Innate glycosidic activity in metallic implants for localized synthesis of antibacterial drugs

The unexpected discovery presented herein is that industrialized metallic wires can perform conversion of the glucuronide prodrugs with ensuing antibacterial effects.

Combatting implant-associated biofilms through localized drug synthesis

Bacterial contamination of implantable biomaterials is a significant socioeconomic and healthcare burden. Indeed, bacterial colonization of implants after surgery has a high rate of incidence whereas concurrent prophylaxis using systemic antibiotics has limited clinical success. In this work, we develop enzyme-prodrug therapy (EPT) to prevent and to treat bacteria at interfaces. Towards the overall goal, novel prodrugs for fluoroquinolone antibiotics were developed on a privileged glucuronide scaffold. Whereas carbamoyl prodrugs were not stable and not suitable for EPT, glucuronides containing self-immolative linker between glucuronic acid masking group and the antibiotic were stable in solution and readily underwent bioconversion in the presence of β-glucuronidase. Surface coatings for model biomaterials were engineered using sequential polymer deposition technique. Resulting coatings afforded fast prodrug conversion and mediated antibacterial measures against planktonic species as evidenced by pronounced zone of bacterial growth inhibition around the biomaterial surface. These biomaterials coupled with the glucuronide prodrugs also effectively combatted bacteria within established biofilms and also successfully prevented bacterial colonization of the surface. To our knowledge, this is the first report of EPT engineered to the surface of biomaterials to mediate antibacterial measures.

Perioperative Management of Patients with Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases Undergoing Major Orthopaedic Surgery: A Practical Overview

Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases often need orthopaedic surgery due to joint involvement. Total hip replacement and total knee replacement are frequent surgical procedures in these patients. Due to the complexity of the inflammatory rheumatic diseases, the perioperative management of these patients must envisage a multidisciplinary approach. The frequent association with extraarticular comorbidities must be considered when evaluating perioperative risk of the patient and should guide the clinician in the decision-making process. However, guidelines of different medical societies may vary and are sometimes contradictory. Orthopaedics should collaborate with rheumatologists, anaesthesiologists and, when needed, cardiologists and haematologists with the common aim of minimising perioperative risk in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The aim of this review is to provide the reader with simple practical recommendations regarding perioperative management of drugs such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and tools for a risk stratification for cardiovascular and thromboembolic risk based on current evidence for patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

Postoperative prophylactic antibiotics in total joint arthroplasty

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently released their 2017 Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection. One of their recommendations is the ordering of a single dose of preoperative prophylactic antibiotics with no subsequent postoperative dosing; this recommendation includes perioperative antibiotics for patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. At this time, the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) does not agree with this recommendation vis-a-vis total joint arthroplasty because it contradicts current international standards of care with limited evidence and study. AAHKS still recommends postoperative antibiotics and recommends further research. Both the Board of Counselors and Board of Specialty Societies of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons have endorsed this AAHKS recommendation through an advisory opinion; the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Board of Directors adopted that advisory opinion in June 2017. A 2017 Foundation for Arthroplasty Research and Education prospective, randomized study is being undertaken to provide level I evidence for or against single-dose vs 24-hour antibiotic prophylaxis in primary total knee arthroplasty.

Should venous doppler ultrasonography be routinely applied before lower extremity major orthopedic surgery?

Background

Hip-knee arthroplasty and knee arthroscopy (KA) is frequently applied in the orthopaedic surgery. The approach does not exist related with the preoperative asymptomatic deep venous thrombosis (DVT). In this study, the patients who would undergo surgery lower extremity were screened for asymptomatic DVT, using the venous Doppler ultrasonography (USG).

Patients and Methods

DVT was screened by venous Doppler USG in the patients who would undergo hip-knee arthroplasty and KA between the dates of November 2013 and September 2015. The patients were investigated regarding the age, gender, and the planned operation. The cases were separated to the following three groups: group I (<49 years), Group II (49-69 years), and Group III (≥70 years).

Results

The study included 222 patients; of these, 174 were female and 48 were male. Group I, Group II, and Group III included 45, 115, and 62 patients, respectively. Of the six patients determined to exist with DVT, 2 (1.73%) were in Group II, and 4 (6.45%) were in Group III.

Conclusion

Although the differences were not found to be statistically significant, it may be useful to screen asymptomatic DVT by Doppler USG in the preoperative period in the 70-year-old male patients, and in those over 70.

Silver Nanocoating Technology in the Prevention of Prosthetic Joint Infection

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a feared complication of total joint arthroplasty associated with increased morbidity and mortality. There is a growing body of evidence that bacterial colonization and biofilm formation are critical pathogenic events in PJI. Thus, the choice of biomaterials for implanted prostheses and their surface modifications may significantly influence the development of PJI. Currently, silver nanoparticle (AgNP) technology is receiving much interest in the field of orthopaedics for its antimicrobial properties and a strong anti-biofilm potential. The great advantage of AgNP surface modification is a minimal release of active substances into the surrounding tissue and a long period of effectiveness. As a result, a controlled release of AgNPs could ensure antibacterial protection throughout the life of the implant. Moreover, the antibacterial effect of AgNPs may be strengthened in combination with conventional antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents. Here, our main attention is devoted to general guidelines for the design of antibacterial biomaterials protected by AgNPs, its benefits, side effects and future perspectives in PJI prevention.