Total hip arthroplasty: comparison of infection rates in a VA and a university hospital.
We reviewed charts of total hip arthroplasties from a ten-year period (January 1973 through December 1982) to determine the rate of infection at the Birmingham Veterans Administration Medical Center. Of 321 procedures, 296 were reviewed (92%). Overall, there were 24 infections (8.1%), 13 of which (4.4%) were deep infections. Seven of the deep infections were due to Serratia marcescens, resulting in six implant removals. These figures are compared to the 1.1% deep infection rate after total hip arthroplasty at the adjoining University Hospital, University of Alabama at Birmingham. The main determinants for risk of infection at the VA Hospital were length of procedure and previous procedures on the affected joint.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents