title: [Pyogenic infection after joint replacement operations: incidence and economic effects].
abstract: Infection following arthroplasty is a rare but significant and threatening complication. The incidence is about 2%. Treatment of an infected joint replacement may be demanding, time consuming and expensive. For the treating institution there is a risk of substantial financial losses due to inadequate reimbursement. Calculated on the basis of approximately 150,000 implanted joint protheses/a, an infection rate of 2% and treatment costs of approximately 50,000 [symbol: see text]/infected case the economic burden is an estimated 150 million [symbol: see text]/a in Germany. This amount should justify a sound evaluation of costs related to infection in arthroplasty, which should be the effort of the health insurance organisations. Additionally specific research in the field of infection prevention must be sponsored. The system of reimbursement should be adequately adopted and corrected.
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Kliniken Bergmannsheil, Universitätsklinik, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum. stephan.arens@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arens
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kutscha-Lissberg
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hebler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wingenfeld
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kälicke
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muhr
mesh_terms: D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000191:economics; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005858:Germany; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D012086:Reoperation / Q000191:economics; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*
vernacular_title: Der pyogene Infekt nach Gelenkersatzoperationen: Inzidenz und ökonomische Auswirkungen.