The pharmacology of infection after total joint arthroplasty

Choosing appropriate antimicrobial therapy for prosthetic joint infections is a multifactorial and often complicated process. Factors that influence antimicrobial decision-making include pharmacodynamics, choice of surgical management, patient tolerance and allergy, financial considerations, and convenience of dosing. Recommendations regarding antimicrobial therapy for prosthetic joint infections vary greatly, and studies to define optimal therapy are lacking. Over the past 10 years, most of the literature on the treatment of prosthetic joint infection has focused on the utility of combination antimicrobial therapy and newer agents to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens.