Risk factors for surgical site infections and other complications in elective surgery in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with special attention for anti-tumor necrosis factor: a large retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To identify risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with special attention for anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatment.


METHODS
All patients with RA who had undergone elective orthopedic surgery since introduction of anti-TNF were included in a retrospective parallel-cohort study with a one-year followup. Primary endpoint was a SSI according to the 1992 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria and/or antibiotic use. Cohort 1 did not use anti-TNF, cohort 2 used anti-TNF but had either stopped (2A) or continued anti-TNF preoperatively (2B), the cutoff point being set at 4 times the half-life time of the drug. Infection rates were compared between cohorts, and logistic regression analysis was performed to examine risk factors.


RESULTS
In total, 1219 (768 patients) procedures were included, and crude infection risks were 4.0% (41/1023), 5.8% (6/104), and 8.7% (8/92) in cohorts 1, 2A, and 2B, respectively. Elbow surgery (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.6-10.1), foot/ankle surgery (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.6-6.5), and prior skin or wound infection (OR 13.8, 95% CI 5.2-36.7) were associated with increased risk of SSI, whereas duration of surgery (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.23-0.78) and sulfasalazine use (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.05-0.89) were associated with decreased risk. Perioperative use of anti-TNF was not significantly associated with an increase in SSI rates (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.43-5.2).


CONCLUSIONS
The most important risk factor for SSI is history of SSI or skin infection. Although our study was not powered to detect small differences in infection rates, perioperative continuation of anti-TNF does not seem to be an important risk factor for SSI.
den Broeder
Alfons A
AA
Department of Rheumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery, Sint Maartenskliniek, The Netherlands. a.denbroeder@maartenskliniek.nl
Creemers
Marjonne C W
MC
Fransen
Jaap
J
de Jong
Eefje
E
de Rooij
Dirk-Jan Ram
DJ
Wymenga
Ate
A
de Waal-Malefijt
Maarten
M
van den Hoogen
Frank H J
FH
D000068879:Adalimumab; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000009:adverse effects; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept