Periprosthetic Joint Infection and Concomitant Sepsis: Unveiling Clinical Manifestations, Risk Factors, and Patient Outcomes

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the epidemiology, risk factors, and outcomes of sepsis, a life-threatening complication, in the context of periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) of the hip and knee.

METHODS: Sepsis was determined using the sepsis-1 criteria. The cohort with PJI and sepsis was compared to patients who had PJI without sepsis. Analyzed risk factors were patient characteristics, microbiological findings, and comorbidities. Outcome parameters were mortality, length of hospital stay, and intensive care unit stay. Among 108 PJIs (48 hips and 60 knees), 40.6% met the sepsis criteria.

RESULTS: In hip PJI, the sepsis group had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (4.0 versus 1.0; P ≤ 0.001) with Staphylococcus aureus infections more common in septic cases (9 of 17 versus 6 of 31; P = 0.04). Renal (odds ratio (OR) 16.9; P ≤ 0.001) and cardiac (OR 12.5; P = 0.02) disease increased sepsis risk. Sepsis correlated with prolonged hospital stays (54 versus 24 days; P = 0.002) and increased mortality (23.5 versus 3.2%; P = 0.047). In knee PJI cases, septic patients had more Staphylococcus aureus PJI (14 of 28 versus 8 of 32; P = 0.04). Atrial fibrillation (OR 3.3; P = 0.04) and renal disease (OR 4.0; P = 0.02) were associated with sepsis. Sepsis cases had longer hospital stays (48 versus 29.5 days; P = 0.01) and higher intensive care unit admissions (67.9 versus 34.4%; P = 0.02). In-hospital mortality was 10-fold higher in the sepsis cohort (25.0 versus 3.3%; OR 10.3, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS: In a considerable number of patients, PJI can lead to a septic course associated with increased mortality. This underscores the need for close monitoring to prevent overlooking these patients' deteriorating clinical conditions. Timely interventions, akin to the "every hour counts" approach in sepsis management, might help reduce morbidity and mortality in these patients.