Infectious arthritis in artificial joints: Risk factors and preven-tion strategies

Arthroplasty, the surgical replacement of a joint with an artificial prosthesis, has become increasingly common due to aging populations and rising prevalence of degenerative joint diseases. Despite advances in surgical techniques and prosthetic materials, infectious arthritis in artificial joints remains a serious complication, associated with high morbidity, prolonged hospitalizations, and significant healthcare costs. Infections can lead to multiple surgeries, prosthesis removal, and systemic complications, including sepsis. Identifying risk factors and implementing effective preventive measures are therefore critical. This literature review was conducted based on scientific publications retrieved from various databases, including the Virtual Health Library (VHL), PubMed (Public Medline), the CAPES Journals Portal, and the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), with no temporal restrictions. Infectious arthritis in artificial joints is a serious complication with significant clinical and economic consequences. Its development is influenced by patient-related, surgical, hospital, and microorganism factors, highlighting the need for early risk identification and stratification. Effective prevention strategies include perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, optimized preoperative preparation, precise surgical techniques, postoperative care, and institutional infection control programs. Early diagnosis and continuous monitoring using clinical evaluation, laboratory tests, imaging, and microbiological assessment are essential for timely intervention and improved outcomes. Integrating prevention, surveillance, and proper management is key to reducing morbidity and mortality associated with prosthetic joint infections.