Should Surgeons Use a Single Dose or Multiple Dose of Antibiotics after Joint Replacement?

Dallas, November 3, 2018 — A study presented at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons found that additional doses of antibiotics administered after skin closure following total joint replacement surgery may not be required.

Timothy L. Tan, MD presented, “Perioperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Single Dose Is as Effective as Multiple Doses.” Dr. Tan and co-authors, Noam Shohat, MD, Alexander J. Rondon, MD, MBA, Karan Goswami, MD, Sean P. Ryan, MD, Thorsten M. Seyler, MD, PhD and Javad Parvizi, MD, recognized concern about extending to arthroplasty recent guidelines recommending a single dose of antibiotics versus multiple doses (for a total of 24 hours) following surgery. They performed a retrospective study of 20,682 primary total joint arthroplasties from 2006-2014 in which patients received a single dose of antibiotics vs. multiple doses of antibiotics, and then examined rates of postoperative joint infection.

“This study supports the notion that the administration of additional antibiotics following skin closure may not be required in patients undergoing primary TJA, regardless of their preoperative risk of PJI,” the study concluded.

Abstract: http://meeting.aahks.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/18_paper-27-tan.pdf

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About the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons:

Established in 1991, the mission of AAHKS is to advance hip and knee patient care through education, advocacy and research. AAHKS has a membership of over 4,000 surgeons and other hip and knee health care professionals.

Contact:
Denise Smith Rodd
drodd@aahks.org