Effect of weight-adjusted antimicrobial antibiotic prophylaxis on postoperative dosage and surgical site infection incidence in total joint arthroplasty

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSI) following total joint arthroplasty pose a significant concern for both providers and patients across the globe. Currently, administration of antimicrobial antibiotic prophylaxis is used throughout the world to reduce the incidence of SSI. However, the correct dosage and frequency of administration remains debatable. In this editorial, we emphasized the determination of the effect of administration of weight-adjusted antimicrobial antibiotic prophylaxis regime on the incidence of SSI and postoperative dosage reduction compared to the conventionally used regime during total joint arthroplasty. The results demonstrated similar efficacy between both regimes with respect to the incidence of SSI. In addition, weight-adjustment led to reduced postoperative dosage and has the potential to reduce chances of achieving lower therapeutic concentration, drug resistance, drug toxicity, and costs.