Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Prevalence and risk factors for haematogenous periprosthetic joint infection during Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia

Blank, Hanna LU ; Abdul Rahim, Hebba LU ; Thompson, Olof LU and Påhlman, Lisa I. LU (2025) In Infectious Diseases 57(1). p.49-55
Abstract

Background: Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) may lead to periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) via haematogenous spread of bacteria to the joint. Due to the risk of PJI, patients with SAB and prosthetic joint are recommended prolonged antibiotic treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of PJI during SAB, and to evaluate if short treatment duration affects outcomes in patients with uncomplicated SAB and prosthetic joints without clinical signs of PJI. Methods: Patients with growth of S. aureus in blood cultures were cross-referenced against the Swedish Arthroplasty register to identify patients with prosthetic hip or knee joints at the time of SAB. Medical records were reviewed to identify PJI at the time of SAB and... (More)

Background: Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) may lead to periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) via haematogenous spread of bacteria to the joint. Due to the risk of PJI, patients with SAB and prosthetic joint are recommended prolonged antibiotic treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of PJI during SAB, and to evaluate if short treatment duration affects outcomes in patients with uncomplicated SAB and prosthetic joints without clinical signs of PJI. Methods: Patients with growth of S. aureus in blood cultures were cross-referenced against the Swedish Arthroplasty register to identify patients with prosthetic hip or knee joints at the time of SAB. Medical records were reviewed to identify PJI at the time of SAB and during a 6-month follow-up period. Results: Out of 400 patients with SAB and a prosthetic joint, 281 met all eligibility criteria and were included in the study. Of the included participants, 35 (12%) had a haematogenous PJI. Younger age and presence of multiple prosthetic joints were associated with an increased risk of PJI. Of the 247 patients without signs of PJI at the initial SAB episode, 118 patients (48%) had an uncomplicated infection and received short total antibiotic treatment (median 15 days, IQR 13-17). The risk of PJI during the follow-up period was low (<1%) and similar in the uncomplicated group compared to patients with complicated SAB that received longer antibiotic treatment (median 29 days, IQR 15-70). Conclusion: The prevalence of haematogenous PJI was lower than previously reported. Our data do not support prolonged antibiotic treatment in patients with SAB and prosthetic joints without clinical signs of PJI.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
arthroplasty, bacteraemia, blood stream infection, periprosthetic joint infection, Staphylococcus aureus
in
Infectious Diseases
volume
57
issue
1
pages
49 - 55
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:39120912
  • scopus:85200978902
ISSN
2374-4235
DOI
10.1080/23744235.2024.2389482
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b0b31613-a5f0-4870-9a8e-29c29c0c5a87
date added to LUP
2024-11-05 15:37:06
date last changed
2025-07-02 12:50:25
@article{b0b31613-a5f0-4870-9a8e-29c29c0c5a87,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) may lead to periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) via haematogenous spread of bacteria to the joint. Due to the risk of PJI, patients with SAB and prosthetic joint are recommended prolonged antibiotic treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of PJI during SAB, and to evaluate if short treatment duration affects outcomes in patients with uncomplicated SAB and prosthetic joints without clinical signs of PJI. Methods: Patients with growth of S. aureus in blood cultures were cross-referenced against the Swedish Arthroplasty register to identify patients with prosthetic hip or knee joints at the time of SAB. Medical records were reviewed to identify PJI at the time of SAB and during a 6-month follow-up period. Results: Out of 400 patients with SAB and a prosthetic joint, 281 met all eligibility criteria and were included in the study. Of the included participants, 35 (12%) had a haematogenous PJI. Younger age and presence of multiple prosthetic joints were associated with an increased risk of PJI. Of the 247 patients without signs of PJI at the initial SAB episode, 118 patients (48%) had an uncomplicated infection and received short total antibiotic treatment (median 15 days, IQR 13-17). The risk of PJI during the follow-up period was low (&lt;1%) and similar in the uncomplicated group compared to patients with complicated SAB that received longer antibiotic treatment (median 29 days, IQR 15-70). Conclusion: The prevalence of haematogenous PJI was lower than previously reported. Our data do not support prolonged antibiotic treatment in patients with SAB and prosthetic joints without clinical signs of PJI.</p>}},
  author       = {{Blank, Hanna and Abdul Rahim, Hebba and Thompson, Olof and Påhlman, Lisa I.}},
  issn         = {{2374-4235}},
  keywords     = {{arthroplasty; bacteraemia; blood stream infection; periprosthetic joint infection; Staphylococcus aureus}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{49--55}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Infectious Diseases}},
  title        = {{Prevalence and risk factors for haematogenous periprosthetic joint infection during Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23744235.2024.2389482}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/23744235.2024.2389482}},
  volume       = {{57}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}