Infections in orthopaedic surgery - risk factors and prophylaxis

The authors describe prophylaxis of infections in orthopaedic surgery caused by various factors:- accurate selection of patients (evaluation of diabetes, hemopathies, nephropathies, iatrogenic and acquired immune deficits); - operating room and surgical technique risk factors (endogenous and exogenous contamination, skin preparation, surgeon's skill in performing non aggressive surgery, duration of surgery); - antibiotic prophylaxis with specific pharmacological characteristics (wide spectrum drugs with low toxicity) and chronological criteria (time and duration of prophylaxis). The main preventive measures against infection are reported. The high percentage of infections (11 %) in prosthetic surgery has been due to risk factors existing before surgery (diabetes, hemopathy, immune deficiency).