title: Infection after total joint arthroplasty in patients with human immunodeficiency virus or intravenous drug use.
abstract: Patients with intravenous drug use (IVDU) and patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with painful joint arthrosis present a difficult treatment decision. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of deep periprosthetic infection in patients with HIV or IVDU after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Twenty-nine patients with HIV or a history of IVDU or both underwent TJA. Of 28 HIV-positive patients undergoing TJA, 4 (14%) developed infections. Two of 8 joints (25%) in the IVDU group developed an infection. Two of 5 joints (40%) with both IVDU and HIV developed a deep infection. Patients with HIV or a history of IVDU are more likely to develop a deep infection compared with other patients undergoing TJA. The decision to proceed with TJA in HIV-positive and IVDU patients should be made only after weighing the ratio of risks and benefits.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA. clehmannew@aol.com
authors: C R
authors: CR
authors: Lehman
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Ries
authors: G D
authors: GD
authors: Paiement
authors: A B
authors: AB
authors: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*