Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lower infection rates after dog knee surgery with new protocol changes
By Stine, Samantha L et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2018·Carolina Veterinary Specialists·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Protocol changes to reduce implant-associated infection rate after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy: 703 dogs, 811 TPLO (2006-2014).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 703 dogs that underwent a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) had their surgical infection rates significantly reduced after changes were made to the surgical protocol. Before the changes, 8.5% of dogs developed infections related to the implants, but after implementing stricter cleanliness measures, this rate dropped to just 1.3%. The new protocol included the use of special drapes, antibiotics during surgery, and better surgical gloves. While the infection rates decreased, most infections in the updated group were caused by methicillin-resistant bacteria. This suggests that while the new methods are effective, ongoing monitoring for antibiotic resistance is important.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of a stricter aseptic protocol on implant-associated infection (IAI) rates after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Seven hundred three dogs (811 TPLO). METHODS: Medical records (2006-2014) of dogs with TPLO with a ≥18-month follow-up were reviewed. An established TPLO protocol was altered to include an iodophore-impregnated adhesive drape, cefazolin administration every 90 minutes intraoperatively and then every 4 hours until hospital discharge, orthopedic surgical gloves, triclosan-coated intradermal sutures (instead of staples), soft-padded bandage with mupirocin ointment, use of single-use gloves while handling treated dogs, and placement of an Elizabethan collar. Signalment, affected limb, protocol changes, IAI, time to explant, and culture and susceptibility results were recorded. Data were analyzed by using Fisher's exact test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and a multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: TPLO plates were removed from 31 dogs (8.5% prechange, 1.3% postchange) because of a suspected IAI. Bacterial culture results from an explanted screw were positive in 26 dogs (7.4% prechange, 0.94% postchange). The odds ratio (OR) of IAI in the postchange cohort was decreased by 88% (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.05-0.33) compared with the prechange cohort, after controlling for variables. Staphylococcus spp. were isolated from all implants removed from IAI-positive postchange dogs, 4/5 of which were methicillin resistant. No methicillin-resistant isolates were grown from the prechange cohort implants. CONCLUSION: The protocol tested here decreased IAI rates after TPLO, but most infections diagnosed after its implementation involved methicillin-resistant isolates. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The protocol reported here may be used as a guide in clinics seeking to reduce their IAI rates after TPLO. Postoperative infections after implementation of this protocol should be monitored to evaluate its potential impact on the emergence of antibiotic resistance.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29878479/