The use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement does not increase antibiotic resistance after primary total joint arthroplasty

PURPOSE: One of the preventive strategies for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) in primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Even though it is widely used, there are concerns about the development of antibacterial resistance. The aim of the study was to investigate whether using ALBC in primary TJA increases the antibiotic-resistant PJI. The hypothesis was that the regular use of ALBC does not increase the rate of resistant PJI. METHODS: Patients with confirmed PJI who had revision surgery from year 2010 to 2019 were included in this international multicenter study. The ALBC group was compared to the non-ALBC TJA group from the same time period. Medical records were used to collect clinical (age, gender, body mass index, comorbidities), TJA-related (type of operation, implant type and survival) and PJI-related (cultured microorganism, antibiogram) data. Resistance to gentamicin, clindamycin and vancomycin were recorded from the antibiograms. Multiple logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors and account for the potential confounders. RESULTS: 218 patients with PJI were included in the study: 142 with gentamicin-loaded bone cement and 76 in the non-ALBC group. The average age in the ALBC group was 71 ± 10 years and 62 ± 12 years in the comparison group (p < 0.001). Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CONS) were the most common (49%) isolated pathogens. The use of ALBC did not increase the rate of any resistant bacteria significantly (OR = 0.79 (0.42–1.48), p = 0.469). The presence of CONS was associated with higher risk of antibiotic resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrates no increase in antibiotic resistance due to ALBC after primary TJA. Thus, the use of ALBC during primary TJA should not be feared in the context of antimicrobial resistance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.