Suppressive antibiotic therapy in chronic prosthetic joint infections.

Thirteen patients with chronic total joint infections (eight knees, five hips) were treated with suppressive antibiotic therapy and retention of the prosthesis following surgical debridement and 4 to 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy. These patients faced poor functional outcome after prosthesis removal. After a mean follow up of 37.6 months (range: 24 to 55), only three patients have retained their prostheses. Ten patients required prosthesis removal for recurrent infection a mean of 21.6 months (range: 6 to 48) after starting suppressive therapy. In addition, 38% of patients experienced adverse effects which led to changes in the antibiotic regimen. Suppressive antibiotic therapy in the treatment of chronic prosthesis infections has limited clinical efficacy and is associated with a substantial risk of adverse effects.