Antimicrobial-loaded bone cement does not negatively influence sonicate fluid culture positivity for diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection

Abstract

We compared culture results to investigate the influence of antimicrobial-loaded cement on sonicate fluid culture positivity for the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection. Fifty-four subjects were assessed. The sensitivities of sonicate fluid culture were 77.8% (14 of 18) in subjects with an antimicrobial-loaded cemented prosthesis and 58.3% (21 of 36) in subjects with an antimicrobialfree prosthesis.