Factors Influencing the Use of Oral Antibiotics for Joint Infections
Author Information
Author(s): Granger Marie-Félixe MD, Leis Jerome A. MD, Hempel Amanda MD, Pincus Daniel MD, Ravi Bheeshma MD, Daneman Nick MD, Lam Philip W. MD
Primary Institution: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Hypothesis
What factors influence the choice between intravenous and oral antibiotic therapy for prosthetic joint infections?
Conclusion
The study found that many patients could be transitioned to oral antibiotics, but several barriers still exist.
Supporting Evidence
- 44% of patients received intravenous therapy due to negative cultures.
- Concomitant infections were a reason for IV therapy in 21% of cases.
- Delays in susceptibility testing accounted for 15% of IV therapy cases.
- Half of the patients were transitioned to oral antibiotics after practice changes.
Takeaway
Doctors can often use pills instead of IVs for joint infections, but some reasons make them stick to IVs.
Methodology
A retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess factors influencing the choice of IV versus oral therapy in first-episode prosthetic joint infections.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the single-center study design and reliance on chart reviews.
Limitations
The small sample size and focus on first-episode infections limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Median age was 72 years, with more women (43) than men (35).
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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