Measures taken to reduce joint replacement issues

Joint replacement issues could be eradicated as a result of the implementation of guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

New joints boost quality of life for older adults, but they become infected in between one and two per cent of cases.

Dr Douglas Osmon, associate professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Mayo Clinic, stated this is the case even when precautions are taken.

"There are many different ways to treat these infections to achieve the same outcome. The guidelines provide a framework to help multidisciplinary teams choose the best method of diagnosis and treatment for each patient," he said.

Among the guidelines issued by the IDSA was that physicians ought to suspect a prosthetic joint infection in a patient who has persistent wound drainage in the skin over the joint replacement.

A recent report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies claimed as many as 17 per cent of the hip replacement operations carried out in the UK are done by private companies.

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