(A) What is the optimal length of administration for antibiotic treatment following resection arthroplasty? (B) What is the optimal mode of administration for antibiotic treatment following resection arthroplasty?

Authors: Scott R. Nodzo, Oscar Murillo, Anne Lachiewicz, Keely Boyle, Michael O’Callaghan

RECOMMENDATION: Antimicrobial therapy should be individualized and based on the sensitivity profile of the microorganism, patient tolerance and drug side-effect profile. There is no conclusive evidence supporting the exact length of antibiotic therapy after resection arthroplasty. We recommend treatment for two to six weeks. Either intravenous, oral antibiotics, or a combination are acceptable for treatment following resection arthroplasty as long as the oral agent has adequate bioavailability and can achieve a concentration at the site of infection to eradicate the infecting organism, if used alone.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Moderate

DELEGATE VOTE: Agree: 87%, Disagree: 9%, Abstain: 4% (Super Majority, Strong Consensus)