title: Prosthesis-related infection. Etiology, prophylaxis and diagnosis (a review).
abstract: The recent literature concerning prosthesis-related infection is reviewed with respect to etiology, prophylaxis and diagnosis. Most prosthesis-related infections are initiated during operation by contamination with bacteria-carrying particles from the air as a result of dispersion of skin scales from individuals in the operating room. A small number of infections are caused by hematogenous seeding of bacteria. Glycocalyx, a slime layer produced by bacteria, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of infections, especially in the presence of biomaterial. Clean-air systems in combination with perioperative systemic antibiotics reduce prosthesis-related infections from 3 or 4 per cent to a few per thousand. The use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement is advised in high risk patients although further evaluation is needed. Physical examination of the patient, laboratory tests such as the E.S.R. and C-reactive protein, serial radiograms, isotope scanning techniques and joint aspiration can all help diagnose prosthesis-related infection. However definitive diagnosis is possible only by culturing several samples of material obtained from the interface during revision operation. A perioperative frozen section of interface tissue showing acute (more than 5 leucocytes per field) or severe chronic (more than 50 lymphocytes) inflammation is highly suggestive of sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, St. Radboud Hospital, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Wymenga
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Van Dijke
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Van Horn
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Slooff
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D009873:Operating Rooms; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents