Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the most devastating complications following total joint arthroplasty (TJA) of the hip and knee. Standard of care (SOC) treatment includes surgery and antimicrobials. Morbidity and mortality remain high despite contemporary treatments. The human body is colonized by billions of organisms, collectively, the microbiome, which is central to healthy immune function. Microbiome disruption, dysbiosis, can impair the immune response to infection. Despite recent evidence that suggests dysbiosis may be implicated in PJI, the role of probiotics in the treatment of PJI is unknown. Perioperative probiotics have been demonstrated to be safe and effective for infection prevention in abdominal surgery. The investigators hypothesize that perioperative probiotics will reduce re-infection in patients treated for PJI. A multi-centered, randomized controlled trial (RCT) at two academic, tertiary care centers will be conducted to determine the impact of probiotics on recurrent infection following treatment for PJI. Controls will receive SOC; study patients will receive a probiotic, started shortly after the initiation of and for the duration of their antibiotic therapy + 7 days, in addition to SOC. Primary outcome is re-operation for recurrent infection within 1 year.
The primary and secondary aims for this RCT are: Primary Aim 1.1 To determine the impact of administration of probiotics administered for 6 weeks after the index surgical treatment for PJI on reinfection rates (deep infection) within 1 year following revision TJA for PJI in each of the treatment arms (probiotics and standard of care). Secondary Aims 2.1 To evaluate the incidence of superficial infections including wound drainage, cellulitis, or infections superficial to the deep fascia within 1 year following revision TJA for PJI in each of the treatment arms (probiotics and standard of care). 2.2 To evaluate the safety of use of probiotics in this population and to monitor the incidence of adverse events in patients administered probiotics versus standard of care in patients undergoing treatment for PJI. 2.3 To evaluate the 1-year mortality rate in patients undergoing revision TJA for PJI in each of treatment arms (probiotics and standard of care). 2.4 To evaluate the rate of wound healing and dehiscence in patients undergoing revision TJA for PJI in each of treatment arms (probiotics and standard of care). 2.5 To evaluate the need for chronic antibiotic suppression for the treatment of PJI at final follow-up of one year following revision TJA for PJI in each of the treatment arms (probiotics and standard of care). 2.6 To evaluate the rate of infection with Clostridium difficile within 90 days of finishing antibiotic therapy in each of the treatment arms (probiotics and standard of care). The risk of developing C. difficile infection is present for 90 days following cessation of antibiotic treatment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
152
Culturelle probiotic, one capsule daily to start following SOC surgical treatment for PJI during the initial 6 weeks of SOC antibiotic treatment.
Standard of care (SOC) treatment includes surgery and antimicrobials.
Boston Medical Center, Orthopedic Surgery
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
New York University Langone Orthopedics
New York, New York, United States
Recurrent Prosthetic Joint Infection (PJI)
The number of participants who develop PJI after PJI surgery will be abstracted from electronic medical records.
Time frame: 1 year, 2 years after PJI surgery
Surgical Site Infection (SSI)
The number of participants who develop SSI within 12 months of PJI surgery will be abstracted from electronic medical records.
Time frame: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months post PJI surgery
Medical complications
This outcome will be assessed from information in the electronic medical records and reported as Yes or No.
Time frame: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months post PJI surgery
Surgical complications
This outcome will be assessed from information in the electronic medical records and reported as Yes or No.
Time frame: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months post PJI surgery
Sepsis
The number of participants who have a diagnosis of sepsis related to PJI surgery will be abstracted from electronic medical records.
Time frame: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months post PJI surgery
Re-operation for recurrent infection
The number of participants who have a re-operation for recurrent infection within 12 months of the PJI surgery will be abstracted from the electronic medical records.
Time frame: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months post PJI surgery
Revision surgery
The number of participants who have revision surgery within 12 months of PJI surgery will be abstracted from electronic medical records.
Time frame: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months post PJI surgery
Complications related to the use of probiotics
This outcome will be assessed from information in the electronic medical records and reported as Yes or No.
Time frame: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months post PJI surgery
Mortality
The number of participants who die within 12 months of the PJI surgery will be abstracted from the electronic medical records.
Time frame: 12 months post PJI surgery
Patient reported health outcomes
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-10 score ranges from 0 to 20 points, with 0 representing the most severe impairment and 20 representing the best possible health. Low scores may indicate poorer self-reported health and a greater risk of future healthcare utilization.
Time frame: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months post PJI surgery
Patient reported hip disability
The Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (HOOS, JR) will be used to assess hip disability. It is patient reported and contains 6 items from the original HOOS survey. Items are coded from 0 to 4, none to extreme respectively. HOOS, JR is scored by summing the raw response (range 0-24) and then converting it to an interval score using a table where the interval score ranges from 0 to 100 where 0 represents total hip disability and 100 represents perfect hip health.
Time frame: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months post PJI surgery
Patient reported knee disability
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Joint Replacement (KOOS, JR) will be used to assess knee disability. It is patient reported and contains 7 items from the original KOOS survey. Items are coded from 0 to 4, none to extreme respectively. KOOS, JR is scored by summing the raw response (range 0-28) and then converting it to an interval score using a table.. The interval score ranges from 0 to 100 where 0 represents total knee disability and 100 represents perfect knee health.
Time frame: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months post PJI surgery
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.