Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prosthetic hip and knee joint infections (PJIs) are challenging to eradicate despite prosthesis removal and long courses of antibiotics. We aimed to describe the risk factors for PJI treatment failure in a multicenter retrospective cohort. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of individuals who underwent prosthetic joint removal for a PJI at one of five hospitals in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 2010–2014. Individuals eligible for the cohort were obtained by searching operative listings and PJIs were defined according to the criteria of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society. Treatment failure was defined as recurrent PJI, amputation, death or chronic antibiotic suppression. Potential risk factors for treatment failure were abstracted by chart review and assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: 533 PJIs were analyzed over a median follow-up duration of 1102 days with 21 surgeons performing more than 5 revision arthroplasties for a PJI. Two-stage procedures were performed in 81% (430/533) and the most common organism was coagulase negative staphylococci (32%). Treatment failure occurred in 28% (150/533) over 1443 patient-years and was caused by a different bacterial species in 53% (56/105). On multivariate analysis the characteristics associated with PJI treatment failure included liver disease (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 3.12, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.09–4.66), the presence of a sinus tract (aHR 1.53, 94% CI (1.12–2.10), preceding debridement with prosthesis retention (aHR 1.68, 95% CI 1.13–2.51), a one-stage procedure (aHR 1.72, 95% CI (1.28–2.32), and infection due to Gram-negative bacilli (aHR 1.35, 95% CI 1.04–1.76). CONCLUSION: PJI treatment failure remains high despite prosthesis removal and the patient risk factors identified are non-modifiable. Novel treatment paradigms are urgently needed along with efforts to reduce orthopedic surgical site infections. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.