Antibiotic prophylaxis for orthopedic prostheses and GI procedures: report of a survey.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the practice recommendations of Program Directors of infectious disease training programs with regard to infection prophylaxis for patients with prosthetic orthopedic devices who undergo gastrointestinal procedures.

METHODS

We surveyed Program Directors of infectious disease training programs to determine what they recommend when asked about antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with orthopedic prostheses who undergo gastrointestinal procedures.

RESULTS

More than 50% of the respondents agreed that prophylaxis is not indicated at any time for these procedures, although there was an almost even split when confronted with colonoscopy and polypectomy within 6 months of prosthesis insertion.

CONCLUSIONS

Most Program Directors agree with the recommendations of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and do not recommend prophylactic antibiotics for these patients. If antibiotics are chosen, they should be the same ones that are recommended for infectious endocarditis by The American Heart Association.