Strategies for infection prevention in arthroplasties: Impact of the PREVINQ-CAT protocol

Introduction

Surgical site infection (SSI) in arthroplasty is a common issue that increases morbidity, mortality, and hospital costs. This study evaluated the impact of the PREVINQ-CAT protocol on reducing SSI rates at Hospital de Mataró.

Methods

SSI data for total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA) were collected from 2019 to 2023. The adherence and effectiveness of PREVINQ-CAT measures, implemented since 2022, were analyzed.

Results

The study included an annual sample of approximately 300 elective and urgent THA surgeries and 270 elective TKA surgeries. SSI incidence in THA peaked in 2021 (>4%) and decreased to 1.5% in 2023 following PREVINQ-CAT implementation, though without statistical significance (p = 0.47). In TKA, SSI remained stable at around 0.5%, with no significant differences between the 2019–2021 and 2022–2023 periods (p = 0.907). Adherence to appropriate antibiotic therapy increased from 70% to 90% in 2023 (p = 0.58). In 2022, only 0.3% of cases did not implement any measure, whereas in 2023, all interventions adhered to at least one, with two preventive measures being the most frequently applied (77.2% in 2022 and 78% in 2023).

Conclusion

The PREVINQ-CAT protocol contributed to reducing SSI in THA and maintaining low rates in TKA. Although the differences were not statistically significant, the high adherence to preventive measures highlights the importance of specific protocols in orthopaedic surgery.