1663. Risk-benefit assessment of cefazolin use for surgical site infection prevention among patients allergic to penicillins and cephalosporins

Abstract

Background. Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication following knee and hip arthroplasty. Perioperative antibiotics are routinely used in an effort to decrease the risk of surgical site infections (SSI), including superficial skin infections and deep PJI. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommend cefazolin as standard of care for SSI prophylaxis. However, non-beta-lactams are often used in patients labeled as allergic to penicillins or cephalosporins due to concern of increased hypersensitivity reactions (HSR). Methods. This study examined the frequency of SSI and HSR after receipt of perioperative cefazolin compared to clindamycin and/or vancomycin (C/V) within adult patients labeled as allergic to penicillins or cephalosporins. Patients were included if they underwent primary total hip or knee replacement surgery between January 2020 and July 2021 within the University of Colorado Health system. The outcome of SSI was assessed up to 90 days after surgery. The outcome of HSR was assessed up to 60 minutes after the conclusion of surgery. Results. The cohort included 1,128 patients (cefazolin, n=809; C/V, n=319). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups except the proportion of patients with a history of immediate allergy symptoms was greater in the C/V group (59.6%) compared to the cefazolin group (35.8%). The frequency of SSI was lower in the cefazolin group compared to the C/V group (0.9% vs. 3.8%, p