Primary total joint arthroplasty performed in operating rooms following cases of known infection

No study has examined infection rates in "clean" cases following "dirty" cases. This study evaluated patients undergoing elective primary total joint arthroplasties performed in operating rooms following cases of known infection for development of postoperative infection. A retrospective review of all elective primary total joint arthroplasties performed over a 5-year period at our institution was conducted. Patients who underwent primary total joint arthroplasties that followed cases of known infection in the same operating room were examined (minimum follow-up of 1 year) to determine the occurrence of infection based on culture data and subsequent procedures. Thirty-nine total joint arthroplasties (27 total knee arthroplasties and 12 total hip arthroplasties) in 35 patients were performed following cases of known infection in the same operating room. Of these patients, 1 (2.6%) developed a periprosthetic joint infection. The infecting organism (Propionibacterium acnes) was the same as that isolated from the preceding "dirty" case. Further investigation is necessary to determine whether performing primary total joint arthroplasties immediately following "dirty" cases increases risk of infection.