Prolonged suppression of infection in total hip arthroplasty.

Nineteen periprosthetic infections after total hip arthroplasty were treated with prolonged suppressive antibiotics without removing the components. In 11, antibiotic therapy was monitored with serum bactericidal titers. Eleven had incision and drainage. Indications included patients' refusal of removal or medical contraindications to surgery. Requirements included well-fixed components, highly sensitive organisms, and no systemic sepsis. The follow-up period averaged 4.1 years after treatment. Nine hips showed no deterioration. Seven prostheses failed, five with progressive hip sepsis. Three patients had increasing symptoms without prosthesis removal. Although two-stage reimplantation is preferred, suppressive antibiotics and prosthesis retention can succeed in some patients and may be considered in old, frail patients with an early infection caused by bacteria responsive to oral antibiotic therapy. Suppressive therapy may also be considered for an otherwise compliant patient who refuses removal of an infected prosthesis. The organism must be sensitive to oral antibiotics, and the patient must be tolerant of the antibiotics.