Urinary Tract Infection after Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Perioperative urinary tract infections (UTI) are a relatively common occurrence after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study was to assess demographics, outcomes and trends in the development of UTI's after THA using the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS). All patients undergoing THA were divided based on whether or not they developed a UTI, and data regarding demographics, outcome and complications were gathered and analyzed. No significant trend in rate of UTI after THA was found. Patients who developed a UTI were more likely to be female, have more comorbidities and receive a transfusion. They had a longer hospitalization, lower rate of discharge directly home and an increased rate of discharge to a rehabilitation facility. Orthopaedists should identify those patients at increased risk who according to this study appear to be older, female patients with multiple co-morbidities who received a blood transfusion. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 29(3):162-164, 2020).