Prosthetic Joint Infection: Prevention Update

Abstract

Given the recognised complexities of diagnosis and treatment of prosthetic joint infections, prevention of these infections is of paramount importance. Over half of these infections can be prevented; therefore, development and implementation of evidence-based guidelines will assist to standardise practice and optimise the prevention of prosthetic joint infections. In the recent year, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have published guidelines for the prevention of surgical site infections, including prosthetic joint infections. These guidelines have incorporated a thorough, graded review of the evidence and provided recommendations on key areas in the preoperative, intraoperative and preoperative period. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines specifically have examined the evidence for prevention strategies in arthroplasty surgery. This chapter will review these new guidelines, in addition to other areas of infection prevention for patients undergoing prosthetic joint replacement surgery.