Antibiotic Regimen For Prophylaxis Of Total Joint Replacement Infection:
Standard Oral Prophylaxis: Cephalosporin or Amoxicillin 1-2G 1hr before procedure
Penicillin allergic patients: Clindamycin 600 mg 1hr before procedure
Parentral prophylaxis: Cefazolin 1 G IV within 1hr of procedure or Ampicillin 600mg IV within 1 hr of procedure
It is being highlighted in the published articles that the negatives outweigh the benefits of undergoing Antibiotic prophylaxis in Prosthetic knee patients, as with repeated Antibiotic medications there are chances of Antibiotic resistant bacteria thriving in the prosthetic regions leading to future complications. So it is better to weigh the Risks vs Benefits and go for the Antibiotic Prophylaxis only after consulting with the Orthopedic surgeon.
In certain cases where Antibiotic medication is a must, it is most appropriate that the orthopedic surgeon recommends the appropriate antibiotic regimen.
References:
Dental Antibiotics After Tkr
I have read that many of you take antibiotics before any dental work. I want to get back to my dental cleanings, I’m 4 months post-op from bilateral. My OS said he doesn’t believe in prescribing antibiotics for dental work, but my dentist said it’s the first he’s heard of a DR not prescribing and would want my OS to put that in writing for him before he would do any work. Now I’m wondering what’s the harm of taking them before dental work? An ounce of preventionthanks for any replies to this.
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I had a partial replacement and needed to wait 6 months after surgery before I could go to the dentist for a cleaning, and needed to do antibiotics prior.
I had a partial replacement and needed to wait 6 months after surgery before I could go to the dentist for a cleaning, and needed to do antibiotics prior.
S To Take Before Surgery
In the weeks before surgery, see your dentist to check for cavities or other problems that need attention. This is because an infection from your mouth, or anywhere else in your body, can go to your knee.
Before your knee surgery, the following steps can help prevent infections:
- Antibiotics. Your healthcare team will usually give you antibiotics in the hour before surgery, and then at 24 hour intervals afterwards.
- Testing for and reducing nasal bacteria. There is some evidence that testing for Staphylococcus bacteria in the nasal passages, and using intranasal antibacterial ointment before surgery, could reduce infections.
- Washing with chlorohexidine. Some evidence says that washing with cloths soaked in chlorhexidine in the days leading up to surgery could help prevent infection. Brands include Betasept and Hibiclens.
- Avoid shaving. Opt not to shave your legs before surgery as this can increase the bacterial load.
The surgeon may recommend rescheduling your surgery if there are any changes in your medical condition, cuts or scratches on the skin, signs of a urinary tract infection, or symptoms of a cold.
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Are Antibiotics Necessary For Dental Procedures
Antibiotics may be used in cases of an abscess or periodontal disease . Its usually a necessary part of such procedures as tooth extraction, root canal therapy or deep cleaning of the gums. In other cases, antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent an infection.
Are prophylactic antibiotics needed after knee replacement?
Given the potential adverse outcomes and cost of treating an infected joint replacement, the AAOS recommends that clinicians consider antibiotic prophylaxis for all total joint replacement patients prior to any invasive procedure that may cause bacteremia.
Stop Premedicating Ada Review Examines Treatment Of Patients With Prosthetic Joints

We have faced this issue in practice too many times to count. Your patient has a hip or knee replacement, and the orthopedic surgeon recommends antibiotic premedication for life. Previous recommendations from the American Heart Association had been to premedicate for a short period of time. Those guidelines were later updated. The dentist you work for follows a practice of premedicating the patient for two years. Another dentist premedicates patients with prosthetic joints for six months only. Patients forget to take their antibiotics prior to their dental hygiene appointment and then you are left with the conundrum of having the patient take a dose five minutes prior to the appointment, not taking the medicine at all, or taking the antibiotic after the appointment.
All of these situations were made worse when, in 2012, a panel of experts representing the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Dental Association published a systematic review and clinical practice guidelines that offered no clear recommendations at all. In fact, their report generated more questions than ever even though the report clearly showed no evidence supporting the need for prophylactic antibiotics following joint replacement.
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Reference
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New Ada Guidelines On Prophylactic Antibiotics
In general, according to the 2015 ADA clinical practice guideline, prophylactic antibiotics are not recommended prior to dental procedures for preventing prosthetic joint infection. A person with a prosthetic heart valve or who has had a heart valve repaired with prosthetic material may be given antibiotics an hour before dental work for the first two years following joint replacement. Following that, patients are advised to take antibiotics for up to eight weeks via IV and possibly three to six months by mouth.
Why Do Knee Replacement Patients Have To Take Antibiotics For Dental Work
If youve had a total joint replacement or similar procedure, you will want your surgeon to decide if you need to take an antibiotic before you undergo dental work. This is a precaution to prevent a serious infection known as bacteremia.
What medical conditions require antibiotics before dental work?
Today, the AHA only recommends antibiotics before dental procedures for patients with the highest risk of infection, those who have:
- A prosthetic heart valve or who have had a heart valve repaired with prosthetic material.
- A history of endocarditis.
- A heart transplant with abnormal heart valve function.
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Can An Infection Affect A Knee Replacement
The following is a summary of the facts. If an infection in your body spreads to your joint replacement, you may be infected again. Bacteria are responsible for the majority of infections. Our immune systems are typically in charge of keeping bacteria in check, though bacteria are also found in our gastrointestinal tract and on our skin.
Knee Replacement Surgery: The Dangers Of Infection
An infection in the knee may result in the knee becoming completely useless unless it is treated. In the case of the patient, a replacement implant may be required. In some cases, the infection can cause bone damage. Because of this, total knee replacement may be required.
Who Can Antibiotic Prophylaxis Help
Depending on your personal medical history, you may still be a candidate for premedication. For example, antibiotic prophylaxis might be useful for patients undergoing dental procedures who also have compromised immune systems , which increases the risk of orthopedic implant infection. It may also benefit others with . Always talk with your dentist or physician about whether antibiotic prophylaxis before dental treatment is right for you.
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New Dental Antibiotic Prophylaxis Recommendations For Patients With Total Joint Replacements
The ADA has since turned away from its aggressive approach of recommending that everyone with a total joint replacement get antibiotics before invasive dental work.
Last year I mentioned that the ADA had formed a task force to research the literature and form new guidelines on the decision of how to give antibiotic prophylaxis to patients who had undergone total joint replacement. The ADA has since removed the recommendation from their website that all patients with joint replacements be premedicated with antibiotics before dental work. They have now posted the following recommendation :
The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons are currently in the process of developing evidence-based clinical guidelines on the topic of antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with orthopedic implants undergoing dental procedures. The ADA and AAOS do not have a joint recommendation at this time. There are differing opinions on the need for antibiotic prophylaxis. These opinions/statements are presented below to assist the dentist in making informed decisions about the prescription of antibiotics. The ADA believes that the professional goal should be consensus among the dentist and physician, which is the expressed goal being pursued in the ongoing ADA/AAOS project.
Dental Treatment In The First Three Months After Hip Or Knee Replacement:
- Non-infected dental problem not causing pain: Delay non-urgent and non-infected dental procedures until 3-6 months after joint replacement
- Dental abscess : Proceed with urgent and aggressive dental treatment to clear the abscess. Treat the cause of the abscess. Treatment should occur under antibiotic coverage
- Treatment of dental pain: Provide emergency dental treatment for pain. Antibiotics are recommended if a medium or high risk dental procedure is to be performed.
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Is It Necessary To Take Antibiotics Before Dental Work
Most antibiotics prescribed before dental visits are unnecessary and can lead to serious side effects such as an allergic reaction or diff infection, according to a study presented at IDWeek. Antibiotics often are prescribed before dental visits to prevent infection, but 80% are unnecessary.
What antibiotics are used after surgery?
Commonly used surgical prophylactic antibiotics include:
- intravenous first generation cephalosporins cephazolin or cephalothin.
- intravenous gentamicin.
- intravenous or rectal metronidazole
- oral tinidazole
Duration Of Antibiotic Therapy

Antimicrobial prophylaxis should be discontinued within 24 hours after the operation.10,11 In a trial comparing 1 day versus 3 days of cefazolin, the infection rate was identical .20 In another trial, a single preoperative dose of cefazolin prevented infection just as well as 1 day of cefuroxime.21Since judicious use of antibiotics is imperative to reduce the risk ofantimicrobial resistance, antimicrobials should be used for the shortestduration possible without increasing the risk of infection. Inorthopedic procedures requiring drain placement, there is no evidencesuggesting that antimicrobials should be continued until all drains areremoved thus, antibiotics should be discontinued within 24 hours.11
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Antibiotic Prophylaxis And Joint Surgery
In the past, people who have had a joint replacement, such as a hip or a knee replacement, were often prescribed antibiotic prophylaxis before invasive dental procedures. While this still may be necessary for some individuals, in general, for patients with prosthetic joint implants, prophylactic antibiotics are not recommended routinely prior to dental procedures to prevent prosthetic joint infection.
Based on careful review of the scientific literature, the American Dental Association found that dental procedures are not associated with prosthetic joint implant infections, and that antibiotics given before dental procedures do not prevent such infections. The American Dental Association has found it is no longer necessary for most dental patients with orthopedic implants to have antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent infection.
A joint expert group of the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons found moderate strength evidence that dental procedures are unrelated to implant infection and that antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental procedures does not reduce the risk of subsequent implant infection. The group stated that practitioners might consider discontinuing the practice of routinely prescribing prophylactic antibiotics for patients with hip and knee prosthetic joint implants undergoing dental procedures.
Who Needs Antibiotics Before Dental Work
What is antibiotic prophylaxis? Prebiotic prophylaxis is simply taking antibiotics before certain dental procedures like teeth cleaning, tooth extractions, root canals, and deep cleaning between the root and gums to avoid infections.
Antibiotics used before a dental visit can have serious side effects. A study show is a prescribed study that is untruthful and exploitative. Taking them for a day or two after use is risky. This is no longer recommended in most cases, according to the American Dental Association and the American Heart Association. Even when used for a few days or weeks, antibiotics are not benign. When antibiotics are not indicated, we should avoid exposing ourselves to them. In Infectious Diseases Week, IDWeek provides the most recent scientific and clinical approaches to infectious disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology.
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Antibiotics Used In Dentistry
- Penicillin: A common class of antibiotic with minor side effects that treats a broad range of bacterial infections
- Amoxicillin and ampicillin: Antibiotics in the penicillin family that treat a greater variety of infections
- Metronidazole: An antibiotic with antimicrobial properties that is regularly used to treat acute ulcerative gingivitis and is frequently used in conjunction with penicillin
- Erythromycin: A broad spectrum antibiotic administered to patients allergic to penicillin
- Cephalosporin: An antibiotic appropriate for those with penicillin allergies and used to treat a range of bacterial infections
- Tetracycline: An antibiotic used to treat a spectrum of infections, can cause grey stains on erupting teeth, and should not be prescribed to pregnant women or children under 12
- Sulphonamides: A group of antibiotics that can penetrate cerebrospinal fluid, often prescribed as a prophylactic to prevent bacterial meningitis for those with high infection risk
- Co-trimoxazole: An antibiotic that targets specific bacterial infections and requires a bacteriological sensitivity test
Wilson W, Taubert KA, Gewitz M, Lockhart PB, Baddour LM, Levison M, et al.
Circulation 2007 116:1736-54.
Wilson W, Taubert KA, Gewitz M, Lockhart PB, Baddour LM, Levison M, et al.
J Am Dent Assoc 2008 139 Suppl:3S-24S Accessed July 2018.
What is antibiotic prophylaxis. American Dental Association. J Amer Dent Assoc. 2016. Vol. 147 p. 526.
Dental Work After Knee Replacement: What You Need To Know
Antihistamines, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, should be given to patients at high risk. Blood borne bacteria can be prevented from entering the prosthetic knee by adhering to these precautions. Can you have dental work done after knee replacement? Following knee replacement, most surgeons recommend that patients avoid invasive dental procedures for at least 8-12 weeks. What antibiotics should I be taking for my knee? It is possible that you will require an antibiotic. AntibioticsVascularAntibioticsCifazolin Vancomycin EsophagealGastroenterology Gastroduodenal ColorectalAntibioticsAntibiotics for gastrointestinal disordersAntibiotics for gastroea Can I premedicate for knee replacement? Pre-medicated patients are typically on medication for two years. Patients who need prosthetic joints are premedicated for six months by another dentist.
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Antibiotic Guidelines For Patients Undergoing Dental Procedures After Hip Or Knee Replacement
Spread of oral bacteria into the bloodstream from oral microorganisms can occur after invasive dental procedures and can potentially lead to infection of a hip or knee prosthesis.
The following guidelines are provided for patients undergoing dental procedures after Hip or Knee Replacement. These guidelines are in accordance with recommendations provided by the Australian Arthroplasty Society.
Do You Need Antibiotics Before Your Dental Visit
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections. Antibiotic prophylaxis is the taking of antibiotics before a surgery or other procedure that may release large numbers of bacteria into your bloodstream to decrease the chance of infection in another part of your body. During dental procedures that may cause bleeding, such as tooth extractions, large numbers of bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream. In persons at high risk of infection or with certain heart conditions, there is concern that these bacteria may cause infection in other parts of the body . The immune system normally kills these bacteria, but antibiotic prophylaxis may offer these people extra protection. The American Heart Association recommends that antibiotics be used prior to some dental procedures for persons with certain heart conditions, who may be at risk for developing an infection of the heart.
Numerous studies have pointed out that blood bacteria may occur during normal daily activities, such as chewing, tooth brushing and flossing. It is likely that these daily activities induce many more bacteremias than typical dental procedures. While studies do show a strong association between certain dental procedures and bacteremia, they dont show good evidence that there is a direct link between dental procedure associated bacteremia and infections in the heart or prosthetic joints.
Heres what the experts say.
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- Nonoperative and operative treatments available
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Ada And Orthopedic Society Antibiotic Recommendations

The American Dental Association is the professional society for dentists. The ADAs official recommendations are as follows: For patients with prosthetic joint implants, prophylactic antibiotics are not recommended prior to dental procedures to prevent prosthetic joint infection. They recommend abstaining from prophylactic antibiotics because they assert that there is no evidence that dental procedures are associated with PJIs. They also argue that there is no evidence to suggest that giving patients prophylactic antibiotics before dental procedures prevents PJIs. The ADA asserts that antibiotic resistance is a major concern, and the theoretical benefits are not enough to make up for this concern. However, they state that each patient should be considered individually, taking into account their personal risk factors.
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Just as the ADA is the professional society for American dentists, the AAOS is the professional society for orthopedic surgeons. They have released their own guidelines for surgeons when considering prophylactic antibiotics for dental procedures.
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