Comparative effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing serious adverse events after primary total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials

Background and purpose: The optimal duration of antibiotic prophylaxis for reducing serious adverse events (SAEs) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is unclear. We aimed to assess the comparative effectiveness of different strategies of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing SAEs after THA. Methods: ...

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Main Authors: Armita A Abedi, Jacob M Svensson, Alma B Pedersen, Claus Varnum, Sabrina M Nielsen, Jens H Laigaard, Robin Christensen, Søren Overgaard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical Journals Sweden 2025-08-01
Series:Acta Orthopaedica
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Online Access:https://actaorthop.org/actao/article/view/44482
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author Armita A Abedi
Jacob M Svensson
Alma B Pedersen
Claus Varnum
Sabrina M Nielsen
Jens H Laigaard
Robin Christensen
Søren Overgaard
author_facet Armita A Abedi
Jacob M Svensson
Alma B Pedersen
Claus Varnum
Sabrina M Nielsen
Jens H Laigaard
Robin Christensen
Søren Overgaard
author_sort Armita A Abedi
collection DOAJ
description Background and purpose: The optimal duration of antibiotic prophylaxis for reducing serious adverse events (SAEs) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is unclear. We aimed to assess the comparative effectiveness of different strategies of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing SAEs after THA. Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, and the Clinical Trial Registration Database for randomized controlled trials evaluating antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing primary THA. Two authors independently screened, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. We defined SAEs as prosthetic joint infections, other serious infections, major cardiovascular events, venous thromboembolisms, or mortality. The primary summary measures were odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The evidence was assessed using the confidence in network meta-analysis (CINeMA) framework. Results: Of 6,131 identified citations, 10 trials of 2-group comparisons were included, involving 9,106 patients. Duration of antibiotics was grouped as follows: placebo (3), a single dose (3), multiple doses ≤ 24 hours (6), multiple doses (> 1 day) (6), and bone cement with antibiotics (2). Compared with placebo, point estimates suggest lower odds of SAEs after THA for most antibiotic strategies, except multiple doses > 1 day. Multiple doses showed no clear evidence of superiority to single dose: OR (multiple doses ≤ 24 hours) = 0.87 (CI 0.20–3.73; very low) or over more days (> 1 day) OR = 0.40 (CI 0.07–2.42; very low) nor were multiple doses > 1 day superior to multiple doses ≤ 24 hours, OR = 0.46 (0.11–1.90; very low). Conclusion: Relative to placebo, point estimates suggested that most antibiotic prophylaxis regimens may reduce SAEs after THA, with no clear evidence of added benefit from multiple doses. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of precision and the corresponding very low certainty of evidence for some comparisons.
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spelling doaj-art-bba2e1c3edaf46008bc16f267e9baf012025-08-20T04:03:26ZengMedical Journals SwedenActa Orthopaedica1745-36741745-36822025-08-019610.2340/17453674.2025.44482Comparative effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing serious adverse events after primary total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trialsArmita A Abedi0Jacob M Svensson1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4896-1519Alma B Pedersen2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3288-9401Claus Varnum3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0625-5691Sabrina M Nielsen4Jens H Laigaard5Robin Christensen6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6600-0631Søren Overgaard7https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6829-4787Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen; Section for Biostatistics and Evidence-Based Research, the Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle; Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, DenmarkSection for Biostatistics and Evidence-Based Research, the Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen; Research Unit of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, DenmarkDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkSection for Biostatistics and Evidence-Based Research, the Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen; Research Unit of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, DenmarkDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark Background and purpose: The optimal duration of antibiotic prophylaxis for reducing serious adverse events (SAEs) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is unclear. We aimed to assess the comparative effectiveness of different strategies of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing SAEs after THA. Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, and the Clinical Trial Registration Database for randomized controlled trials evaluating antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing primary THA. Two authors independently screened, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. We defined SAEs as prosthetic joint infections, other serious infections, major cardiovascular events, venous thromboembolisms, or mortality. The primary summary measures were odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The evidence was assessed using the confidence in network meta-analysis (CINeMA) framework. Results: Of 6,131 identified citations, 10 trials of 2-group comparisons were included, involving 9,106 patients. Duration of antibiotics was grouped as follows: placebo (3), a single dose (3), multiple doses ≤ 24 hours (6), multiple doses (> 1 day) (6), and bone cement with antibiotics (2). Compared with placebo, point estimates suggest lower odds of SAEs after THA for most antibiotic strategies, except multiple doses > 1 day. Multiple doses showed no clear evidence of superiority to single dose: OR (multiple doses ≤ 24 hours) = 0.87 (CI 0.20–3.73; very low) or over more days (> 1 day) OR = 0.40 (CI 0.07–2.42; very low) nor were multiple doses > 1 day superior to multiple doses ≤ 24 hours, OR = 0.46 (0.11–1.90; very low). Conclusion: Relative to placebo, point estimates suggested that most antibiotic prophylaxis regimens may reduce SAEs after THA, with no clear evidence of added benefit from multiple doses. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of precision and the corresponding very low certainty of evidence for some comparisons. https://actaorthop.org/actao/article/view/44482Antibiotic ProphylaxisPreventionProsthetic Joint InfectionSerious Adverse EventsCemented Total Hip Arthroplasty
spellingShingle Armita A Abedi
Jacob M Svensson
Alma B Pedersen
Claus Varnum
Sabrina M Nielsen
Jens H Laigaard
Robin Christensen
Søren Overgaard
Comparative effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing serious adverse events after primary total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials
Acta Orthopaedica
Antibiotic Prophylaxis
Prevention
Prosthetic Joint Infection
Serious Adverse Events
Cemented Total Hip Arthroplasty
title Comparative effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing serious adverse events after primary total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials
title_full Comparative effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing serious adverse events after primary total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials
title_fullStr Comparative effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing serious adverse events after primary total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials
title_full_unstemmed Comparative effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing serious adverse events after primary total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials
title_short Comparative effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing serious adverse events after primary total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials
title_sort comparative effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing serious adverse events after primary total hip arthroplasty a systematic review and network meta analysis of randomized trials
topic Antibiotic Prophylaxis
Prevention
Prosthetic Joint Infection
Serious Adverse Events
Cemented Total Hip Arthroplasty
url https://actaorthop.org/actao/article/view/44482
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