Decreasing the Incidence of Surgical-Site Infections After Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Surgical-site infection (SSI) after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) continues to pose a challenge and place a substantial burden on patients, surgeons, and the healthcare system. Given the estimated 1.0% to 2.5% annual incidence of SSI after TJA, orthopedists should be cognizant of preventive measures that can help optimize patient outcomes. Advances in surgical technique, sterile protocol, and operative procedures have been instrumental in minimizing SSIs and may account for the recent plateau in rising rates. In this review, we identify and discuss preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative actions that can be taken to help reduce the incidence of SSIs, and we highlight the economic implications of SSIs that occur after TJA.