Delayed Rifampin Administration in the Antibiotic Treatment of Periprosthetic Joint Infections Significantly Reduces the Emergence of Rifampin Resistance

Rifampin-resistant periprosthetic joint infections are associated with worse functional outcome in both acute and chronic infection types

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) pose a significant challenge in orthopaedic surgery, often requiring extensive surgical debridement and prolonged antibiotic treatment to eliminate the causative pathogens. Rifampin, known for its potent activity against biofilms, has been crucial in managing PJI by penetrating and disrupting these formations, thereby improving treatment efficacy. In this sense, antibiotic protocols lacking rifampin have shown increased failure rates. Consequently, the development of rifampin resistance could severely influence the prognosis of PJI. The aim of this clinical study was to assess how rifampin resistance affects the functional outcome in patients with PJI. In this single-centre comparative cohort study, we systematically documented all patients who presented with a PJI during the period spanning from 2018 to 2020. Two distinct groups were established for the study: Group 1 comprised 35 patients with a PJI caused by rifampin-susceptible pathogens and group 2 consisted of 28 patients with PJI caused by rifampin-resistant pathogens. A total of 63 patients (34 females) with a mean age of 68 years and a mean follow up of 37 months were included. The examination of patient-specific parameters did not reveal any identified risk factors as influential. Patients with a rifampin-resistant pathogen underwent a greater number of surgical revisions (6.9 ± 5.1 compared to 3.59 ± 3.39, p = 0.0011) and had extended durations of antibiotic treatment (p = 0.0052). The results of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score revealed significant differences in clinical outcome between both groups in every domain, even when stratified by acute and chronic entities. In total the WOMAC increased significantly from 21.57 ± 14.9 points in group 1 to 71.47 ± 62.7 points in group 2 (p < 0.001). The higher failure rates observed in group 2 were not statistically significant (p = 0.44). The current study demonstrates that PJI caused by rifampin-resistant bacteria are associated with a significantly worse functional outcome in both acute and chronic infection types without significantly affecting total failure rates.

Current Status and Perspectives of Diagnosis and Treatment of Periprosthetic Joint Infection

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a catastrophic complication following joint replacement surgery, posing significant challenges to orthopedic surgeons. Due to the lack of a definitive diagnostic gold standard, timely treatment initiation is problematic, resulting in substantial economic burdens on patients and society. In this review, we thoroughly analyze the complexities of PJI and emphasize the importance of accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. The article specifically focuses on the advancements in diagnostic techniques, ranging from traditional pathogen culture to advanced molecular diagnostics, and discusses their role in enhancing diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, we review the latest surgical management strategies, including everything from debridement to revision surgeries. Our summary aims to provide practical information for the diagnosis and treatment of PJI and encourages further research to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes.

Incidence of Rifampicin Resistance in Periprosthetic Joint Infection: A Single-Centre Cohort Study on 238 Patients

BACKGROUND

Rifampicin is a pillar in the treatment of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). However, rifampicin resistance is an increasing threat to PJI treatment. This study explores the incidence of rifampicin-resistant bacteria over time in a Swedish tertiary referral centre and the association of rifampicin resistance with infection-free survival after PJI.

METHODS

The study included 238 staphylococcal PJIs treated between 2001 and 2020 for which susceptibility data for rifampicin were available. Data on causative bacteria, rifampicin resistance, treatment, and outcome were obtained. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression modelling estimated the infection-free cumulative survival and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the risk of treatment failure.

RESULTS

Rifampicin-resistant causative bacteria were identified in 40 cases (17%). The proportion of rifampicin-resistant agents decreased from 24% in 2010-2015 to 12% in 2016-2020. The 2-year infection-free survival rates were 78.6% (95% CI, 66.4-93.1%) for the rifampicin-resistant group and 90.0% (95% CI, 85.8-94.4%) for the rifampicin-sensitive group. Patients with PJI caused by rifampicin-resistant bacteria had an increased risk of treatment failure (adjusted HR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.7-10.3).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of PJI caused by rifampicin-resistant bacteria did not increase over the past 20 years. The risk of treatment failure in PJI caused by rifampicin-resistant bacteria is more than four times that caused by rifampicin-sensitive bacteria, highlighting the importance of limiting the development of rifampicin resistance.

Antibiotics in Orthopedic Infections

The management of orthopedic infections has continuously been gaining increasing interest in the past few years [...].