Abstract
Aim
The purpose of this work is to study whether there is or not, in the case of an aseptic arthroplasty exchange, a relationship between positive cultures and an early periprosthetic joint infection.
Method
We carried out a retrospective review of our cases of aseptic exchange arthroplasties of hip, knee and shoulder performed between January 2007 and December 2015.
The follow-up period was, in average, from 1 to 9 years, and in all the cases perioperative cultures were evaluated.
Results
The number of arthroplasties reviewed was 183, corresponding to 180 patients.
Seventy-six cultures were positive for one or more microorganisms. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the microorganism most isolated followed by other Coagulase Negative Staphylococci.
Five cases (6.58%) were followed by an acute infection. In three of these cases (60%) the previous culture were positive, but only in one single case, one of the microorganisms isolated after the infection was the same as the isolated previously.
Conclusions
Perioperative cultures in aseptic exchange arthroplasties seems not to have any value as infection predictor.
Neither the previous isolated microorganisms, in case of postoperative infection, have any value as a predictor of the etiological agent.
