Buchalter, D. B., Kirby, D. J., Teo, G. M., Iorio, R., Aggarwal, V. K., & Long, W. J. (2021). Topical vancomycin powder and dilute povidone-iodine lavage reduce the rate of early periprosthetic joint infection after primary total knee arthroplasty. The Journal of Arthroplasty, 36(1), 286-290.
The article discusses infection of the periprosthetic joint as one of the most devastating complications resulting from total knee arthroplasty. Prevention of PJI aims to reduce the number of complications, which is 1% of 42 cases. In this regard, the effect of the combination of vancomycin powder and dilute povidone-iodine lavage on reducing PJI in patients at high risk of arthroplasty was examined. Thus, this combination increased the success rates of successful irrigation, debridement, and liner replacement in treating wounded PJI.
Although the US has a low incidence of PJI, it accounts for about half of the readmissions for all total joint arthroplasties. Moreover, the article notes that PJI significantly reduces satisfaction and life expectancy. With the further spread of the infection, significant resources must be devoted to preventing, detecting, and treating PJI. Thus, endoprosthetic infections are an important area in which there can be no over-budgeting and new avenues of treatment.
The article suggests that a study and protocol that includes topical vancomycin powder and diluted povidone-iodine lavage can significantly reduce the incidence of early PJI. Thus, the risk of early infection following a primary TKA may be reduced regardless of the identified preoperative risk. This protocol confirmed a statistically significant risk reduction when using the powder. Therefore, a clinically relevant study of relatively reduced risk in PJI should be considered when widely used, especially in centers with high infection rates.
In addition, the reduced rates are economically significant for centers involved in value-care. However, the data are still uncertain; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends applying antimicrobial powder to surgical incisions due to a lack of definitive clinical data. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested using the powder before wound closure. Thus, the study described in the article proves that the combination of vancomycin and povidone-iodine lavage may be a more effective system. This conclusion is based on the fact that the mixture is a relatively readily available antiseptic material for areas of surgical incisions. Therefore, although the powder’s effectiveness is not yet proven, the study shows a reduced risk of orthopedic arthroplasty infections.
Antonelli, B., & Chen, A. F. (2019). Reducing the risk of infection after total joint arthroplasty: preoperative optimization. Arthroplasty, 1(1), 1-13.
Total joint replacement can be called one of the most frequently performed procedures in the field of orthopedic surgery. Over time, the need for expected replacement increases, leading to more associated complications. The article describes the need to reduce postoperative complications by preventing infections by involving patients in understanding and targeted action on actual and potential risk factors. Thus, there is an increased need for risk reduction for a more successful postoperative recovery.
The most common modifiable risk factors are obesity, anemia, and malnutrition. These factors account for approximately 80% of patients at risk, including diabetes. To prevent these factors and prevent their impact on postoperative recovery, it is necessary to conduct preoperative screening. Other factors requiring these measures include Staphylococcus aureus, tobacco or alcohol dependence, depression, recent medication, and possibly cardiovascular disease. Moreover, elderly patients should be especially carefully examined. This is since some risk factors occur in people over 64 years of age, whose stay in the hospital is a more extended period. A prolonged hospital stay may be an independent factor in PJI, resulting in a mortality rate five times higher than in younger patients.
A prolonged hospital stay may be an independent factor in PJI, resulting in a mortality rate five times higher than in younger patients. In this case, obesity and diabetes require a more protracted intervention in the preoperative screening of the patient. To be medically effective, screenings should be performed 2-6 weeks before surgery to allow sufficient time for intervention and treatment, including antibiotics. Patients with more than one risk factor are most susceptible to the onset and development of PJI. Thus, the article considers the definition of risk factors that can be modified and eliminated before surgery.
All patients who have undergone TRA are prone to complications and are at risk; however, the article suggests predisposing factors. In-depth training and timely intervention play an essential role in optimizing patients before surgery. Moreover, patients requiring reoperation also require critical follow-up regardless of screening results before the first operation. Thus, the article confirms the importance of preoperative screening to identify risk factors before TRA. Additionally, awareness can help improve infection prevention among patients with risk factors.
Finkelstein, R., Eluk, O., Mashiach, T., Levin, D., Peskin, B., Nierenberg, G., Karkabi, S., & Soudri, M. (2017). Reducing surgical site infections following total hip and knee arthroplasty: An Israeli experience. Musculoskelet Surgery, 101(3), 219-225.
Joint replacement is a last resort but proven effective intervention to help people with severe osteoarthritis. The intervention restores the physical function of the joints, and people feel full. However, the risk of infections is one of the most severe complications in joint replacement. Prevention of SSI consists of multifactorial interventions that may include risks associated with the environment, the surgeon, and the patient. The SSI organ space is hazardous and occurs in the 1 to 2.4% THA range. In this regard, infection prevention is essential for successful recovery.
Factors that can be influenced include the conditions in the operating room, surgical hand-tipping before and during surgery, and the use of cemented prostheses that contain antibiotics. However, there are no reliable studies on the superiority of one factor over another. Therefore, only some measures to prevent infection are based on a solid evidence base. The article describes the results of observing the relationship between some variables and SSI risk.
Infections associated with a joint replacement procedure can lead to severe morbidity and severe health care costs. Thus, infection control is one of the main components of prevention. This approach can reduce SSI rates by 40% with successful monitoring of infections. Therefore, conditions complicating the joint replacement procedure will have a more negligible effect on the patient’s recovery after surgery. Surgical arm shaping and physician skill, and antibiotic prophylaxis can be effective measures in managing SSI.
However, it is still difficult to establish a clear correlation between infection control programs and a reduction in SSI incidence complicating joint replacement. Causality in the study is considered a temporal sequence of events and includes the possible occurrence and sources of bias. Thus, NNIS was the only independent risk factor of statistical interest. However, the risk reduction and infection control program has noted a progressive decrease in SSI incidence. Infections that complicate joint arthroplasty suggest the validity of risk factors and categories by the NNIS index as a way to predict SSI. In addition, infection prevention requires a collaborative effort involving surgeons, orthopedists, medical personnel, and infection control personnel.