How Long Should Antibiotics Be Continued After DAIR for Periprosthetic Joint Infections?

A retrospective study found no additional benefit from antibiotic therapy beyond 12 weeks in patients managed with a DAIR protocol for hip or knee PJI.

Managing acute periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) with debridement, antibiotic therapy, and implant retention (DAIR) instead of implant removal is an attractive option to surgeons and patients alike despite success rates below 67%. Given the high likelihood of poor outcomes, continuing longer-term suppressive antibiotic therapy (SAT) is also appealing, although its clinical utility is unclear. Limited data suggest that 6 weeks of antibiotic therapy is not noninferior to 12 weeks (NEJM JW Infect Dis Jul 2021 and N Engl J Med 2021; 384:1991) and that 90 days is inferior to 1 year of oral therapy (NEJM JW Infect Dis Aug 2022 and Open Forum Infect Dis Jul 2022 [e-pub]).

Now, in a retrospective cohort study in the U.S. and Europe, researchers h…

Reviewing Author

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

How Long Should Antibiotics Be Continued After DAIR for Periprosthetic Joint Infections?

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Reviewing Author