Prevention of deep wound infection after total hip arthroplasty: the role of prophylactic antibiotics and clean air technology.

The role of antimicrobial prophylaxis has been established to be the single most significant factor in the prevention of deep wound infection following total hip arthroplasty. The proper dose, duration of treatment, and type of antibiotic have not been definitively established. The effect of clean air technology techniques has not been universally proven in the clinical setting to provide a reduction in the incidence of infection following total hip arthroplasty. The role of these two methods to prevent deep infection following total hip arthroplasty requires further study.