The use of triple antibiotic prophylaxis during total knee replacement surgeries in Awka, Nigeria

Introduction: Total knee arthroplasty periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) poses a significant challenge in orthopaedic surgery, often resulting in early failure and associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Various treatment strategies exist, including debridement, antibiotic therapy, and prosthesis retention, with preventive measures such as antibiotic-impregnated cement and prophylactic antibiotics administration recommended by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
Methodology: This prospective cohort study was conducted in an orthopaedic hospital in Awka, Southeast Nigeria, spanning seven years (2014-2021). A total of 134 patients who underwent primary and revision knee arthroplasty were included. The hospital's antibiotic prophylaxis protocol for implant surgeries, including arthroplasties, involved a triple combination of ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and metronidazole administered pre-, intra-, and postoperatively for a minimum of 7 days.
Results: The study population had a mean age of 63.6 years, predominantly female (77.7%), and of Christian faith (100%). Most participants were of Igbo ethnicity (99.3%), married (90.7%), and engaged in business (37.7%). Severe osteoarthritis was the primary diagnosis in 97.0% of cases, while rheumatoid arthritis accounted for 3.0%. The triple antibiotic prophylaxis regimen resulted in only one case of superficial infection, with no instances of deep infection recorded.
Conclusion: Triple antibiotics prophylaxis, comprising ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and metronidazole, demonstrated effectiveness in preventing infections associated with total knee arthroplasty. This regimen maintained surgical site infection prevalence within acceptable limits for clean surgeries, without observable antibiotic resistance in the study population.