Urinary tract sequelae: possible influence on joint infections following total joint replacement.

A total of 277 patients receiving 364 total joint replacements in a period of 2 years were analyzed to determine whether urinary tract sequelae (infections, catheterization, and genitourinary instrumentation) encountered preoperatively or perioperatively had any significant influence on the development of postoperative joint infections. Three of these patients developed joint injections, none as a result of urinary tract infection. None of these infected patients required any catheterizations or instrumentation of the genitourinary system postoperatively. To enhance the previous data, all joint infections encountered in a period of 16 years were analyzed using the same criteria. Only one infection spread hematogenously from a urinary tract infection, and this occurred 20 months after surgery. The results of this study show no correlation between preoperative or perioperative urinary tract sequelae and postoperative joint infections. Bacteriuria should not be considered a contraindication for total joint replacement.