Prior use of antimicrobial therapy is a risk factor for culture-negative prosthetic joint infection.
BACKGROUND
Clinical characteristics and control of the infection of patients with culture-negative (CN) prosthetic joint infection (PJI) have not been well assessed. Prior use of antimicrobial therapy has been speculated but not proven as a risk factor for CNPJI.


OBJECTIVE
We therefore determined whether prior use of antimicrobial therapy, prior PJI, and postoperative wound healing complications were associated with CN PJI.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective case-control study of 135 patients with CN PJI treated between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 2000 matched with 135 patients with culture-positive (CP) PJIs (control patients) during the study period. The time to failure of therapy compared between cases and control patients using a Kaplan-Meier analysis.


RESULTS
The use of prior antimicrobial therapy and postoperative wound drainage after index arthroplasty were associated with increased odds of PJI being culture-negative (odds ratio, 4.7; 95% CI, 2.8-8.1 and odds ratio, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.5-8.1, respectively). The percent (+/- SE) cumulative incidence free of treatment failure at 2 years followup was similar for CN and CP PJI: 75% (+/- 4%) and 79% (+/- 4%), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Prior antimicrobial therapy and postoperative wound drainage were associated with an increased risk of negative cultures among patients with PJI. Physicians should critically evaluate the need for antimicrobial therapy before establishing a microbiologic diagnosis of PJI in patients with suspected PJI.


METHODS
Level III, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Malekzadeh
Davud
D
Paracelsus Medical Privatuniversity, Salzburg, Austria.
Osmon
Douglas R
DR
Lahr
Brian D
BD
Hanssen
Arlen D
AD
Berbari
Elie F
EF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
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