Prosthetic joint infections – a need for health economy studies

The incidence of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) after primary hip and knee joint replacement surgery in the Scandinavian countries has declined since the 1970s, from approximately 10% to about 1% today (Lidgren 2001). There has, however, been a slight increase in all the Scandinavian countries during the last few years (Dale et al. 2012), and today PJI is still a common reason for early revision after a primary joint replacement. There is great variation in adherence to well-proven preventive measures, and even more in how PJIs are managed. Prosthetic joint infections cause great suffering in those affected, and they have a real impact on the economy of our healthcare systems.