Abstract
The use of prolonged courses of parenteral or oral antibiotic therapy in the management of two stage revision of infected total knee arthroplasty is reported by all major series.
We present a series of 59 consecutive patients, all with microbiologically proven deep infection managed at our unit where a prolonged course of antibiotic therapy has not been routinely used. The mean follow-up is 56.4 months (range 24–114 months). Of the 38 patients undergoing a staged exchange, infection was successfully eradicated in 34 patients (89%) with recurrent or persistent infection in 4 (11%). The infection cure rate in our series is similar that reported elsewhere.
A prolonged course of antibiotic therapy does not seem to alter the incidence of recurrent or persistent infection. The costs of antibiotic administration are high, both to the patient and care facility. It may be unnecessary.
Honorary Secretary – Mr Roger Smith. Correspondence should be addressed to BASK at the Royal College of Surgeons, 35 - 43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PN
