title: Postoperative infections following total knee replacement: an epidemiological study.
abstract: From January 1991 to June 1997 217 patients undergoing monolateral or bilateral total knee replacement (TKR) were consecutively enrolled in a prospective study on the incidence of postoperative infections and related risk factors. Regional antimicrobial prophylaxis (teicoplanin 400 mg) was used in 263 (95%) prostheses implanted; in the remaining 14 implants (5%) perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (teicoplanin 800 mg) was administered as usual by systemic route. None of the patients experienced local or systemic adverse effects. Over the 2-year follow-up period, 8 (2.9%) primary site infectious complications were recorded, i.e. 4 superficial infections, which were cured without involvement of the prostheses, and 4 deep infections, which required prosthesis removal. Six infections occurred in patients who had undergone previous surgery of the same knee joint, and 2 in patients undergoing primary TKR (p= 0.0005); diabetic patients had infections (13%) more frequently than non-diabetic patients (1.9%, p=0.01). Staphylococci were the leading organisms isolated from infections; however 3 strains of Escherichia coli were isolated from patients who had undergone a previous prosthesis implantation at the same knee joint. Regional administration of teicoplanin appears to be a safe and valuable prophylactic technique; however, in patients at risk of infection a prophylactic regimen which is also active against gram-negative bacteria should probably be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, San Bortolo Hospital, Venezia, Italy. fdl.vi@gpnet.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lazzarini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellizzer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stecca
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viola
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Lalla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017334:Teicoplanin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017334:Teicoplanin