Predictors of failure for prosthetic joint infections treated with debridement

Prosthetic joint infections (PJI) may be cured in selected patients with debridement and prosthesis retention. We aimed to identify predictors of failure to better target patients most likely to benefit from this conservative strategy.

Observational study of patients presenting with PJI initially treated at our hospital with debridement between 2008 and 2011, with>6 months of post-treatment follow-up.

Sixty consecutive patients presenting with PJI (hip, n=34; knee, n=26) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Failures (n=20, 33%), predefined as persistence of PJI signs or relapses, were managed with additional surgery (n=17) and/or lifelong suppressive antibiotic treatment (n=6). Variables independently associated with failure: previous surgery on the prosthetic joint (OR: 6.3 [1.8-22.3]), Staphylococcus aureus PJI (OR: 9.4 [1.6-53.9]), post-debridement antibiotic treatment for <3 months (OR: 20.0 [2.2-200]).

Previous surgery, S. aureus PJI, and short duration antibiotic treatment are associated with an increased risk of failure after debridement.