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An infected prosthetic joint represents a long, grueling, and expensive endeavor for patient and doctor alike. Hence, all parties share a vested interest in preventing such infections. Whereas perioperative antibiotics during joint replacement surgery help prevent infections, no data clearly support the common practice of giving antibiotics to patients with prosthetic joints during dental or other surgical procedures that can induce bacteremia.
In a prospective case-control study, Mayo Clinic researchers evaluated the oral health and recent dental history of 339 patients with prosthetic hip or knee infections who were admitted to the hospital's orthopedic service during 5 years. Compared with patients with uninfected prostheses who were admi…