Guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis.doc

Adopted by NZDA Board March 2003
CODE OF PRACTICE
ANTIBIOTIC PROPHYLAXIS FOR DENTAL TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH
PROSTHETIC JOINT REPLACEMENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
Prosthetic replacement of large joints such as the hip, knee, elbow and shoulder is an increasingly common
and highly successful orthopaedic surgical procedure.
Haematogenous infection of a prosthetic joint replacement is a devastating complication that can lead to loss of
the prosthetic joint and serious morbidity for the patient (Tong and Rothwell 2000). The possibility of oral
organisms from bacteraemia infecting a prosthetic joint has encouraged some dentists and orthopaedic
surgeons to recommend antibiotic prophylaxis for all patients with prosthetic joint replacement when
undergoing dental treatment. However, comprehensive reviews of the literature (Thyne and Ferguson 1991,
ADA/AAOS 1997, Tong and Rothwell 2000) have concluded that there is minimal evidence of haematogenous
infection of prosthetic joints by oral organisms, the reported range being 0.00 - 0.1%. The overall risk of
haematogenous infection from any source is variously reported as 0.4 - 1.7% (Ainscow and Denham 1984,
Jacobson and Matthews 1987).
The risk of blood-borne prosthetic joint infection must then be compared with the risk of antibiotic prophylaxis.
The relative risk of complications, such as allergy from antibiotics, suggests that these complications outweigh
the risk of haematogenous prosthetic joint infection by oral organisms. For example, the incidence of acute
anaphylaxis to penicillin group antibiotics is reported as 0.004 - 0.4% (Tong and Rothwell 2000, Mandell,
Bennett and Dolin 2000, Holgate 1988).
Despite the low risk of blood-borne prosthetic joint infection of artificial joints by oral organisms, some medical
and dental practitioners maintain that so serious are the consequences of prosthetic joint infection that
antibiotic cover should be provided in any circumstance likely to produce bacteraemia of oral organisms.
It is acknowledged that some patients may be at increased risk of haematogenously spread infection of the
prosthetic joint (Thyne and Ferguson 1991, ADA/AAOS 1997, Tong and Rothwell 2000). Patients at potentially
increased risk are listed in Table 1

Table 1 Patients with the following medical conditions are at potentially increased risk of haematogenously
spread late prosthetic joint replacement infection
Inflammatory arthropathies eg rheumatoid arthritis, SLE Prosthetic joint replacement surgery within the past 2 years
2. ORAL SEPSIS
The incidence and magnitude of bacteraemia of oral origin is directly proportional to the degree of oral and
gingival inflammation, the concentration of microorganisms in the area, and the degree of tissue trauma
(Everett and Hirschmann 1977, Bender, Naidorf and Garvey 1984, Guntheroth 1984). To reduce this
bacteraemic risk, patients should have a dental assessment prior to joint replacement, and receive ongoing
dental care thereafter. This applies particularly to those patients listed in Table 1.

3. ANTIBIOTIC PROPHYLAXIS
The low risk of haematogenous prosthetic joint infection from oral organisms, the absence of compelling data
for an association between dental procedures and prosthetic joint infection, and the risk of antibiotic associated
complications all argue strongly against the routine use of antibiotics before dental procedures, even those
procedures generally considered to be associated with an increased incidence of bacteraemia (Bender, Naidorf and Garvey 1984). Notwithstanding these data, the 1997 combined advisory statement from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Dental Association recommends that patients at potentially increased risk of haematogenous prosthetic joint infection (Table 1) should have antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedures likely to cause bacteraemia. This is not the universal view, and many would argue that the available data do not support the combined Association's recommendation. It is not in our view "standard of care" to provide antibiotic prophylaxis even for those patients. Nevertheless, for those clinicians who do favour antibiotic prophylaxis, it is important appropriate antibiotics are used. The antibiotic chosen to provide prophylaxis must be active against viridans streptococci in particular, as they are the only oral organisms that would be expected to be assoiated with a dental procedure-induced haematogenous prosthetic joint infection. Ellis-Pegler et al (1999) have produced guidelines for the prevention of infective endocarditis associated with dental treatment. These recommendations: § list the dental procedures that are associated with a bacteraemia of sufficient magnitude to justify § emphasise the need to maintain good oral health to reduce the incidence and magnitude of orally § provide recommendations for appropriate antibacterial regimens for prophylaxis against the most commonly occurring microorganisms spread from the oral cavity Table 2 Dental procedures creating a bacteraemia of sufficient magnitude to justify antibiotic prophylaxis In general, any procedure that causes bleeding from the gingiva, mucosa or bone Periodontal procedures including probing, scaling, root planing and surgery Endodontic instrumentation or surgery beyond the apex Application of matrix bands below the gingival margin Subgingival placement of gingival retraction cords/strips Placement of orthodontic bands, but not brackets Intraligamentary local anaesthetic injections Reimplantation of avulsed teeth and repositioning of teeth after trauma Oral surgical procedures including biopsy procedures and raising of mucosal flaps Patients with a potentially increased risk of haematogenous prosthetic joint replacement infection who undergo a dental procedure with significant risk of bacteraemia, and for whom antibiotic cover is deemed appropriate, should receive the antibiotic cover regimen for a patient with moderate cardiac risk as recommended by Ellis-Pegler et al (1999). (Table 3) Table 3 Antibacterial recommendations for dentally-induced bacteraemia in patients who are at potentially increased risk of haematogenously spread late prosthetic joint replacement infection. Oral amoxycillin 2.0g one hour before procedure and oral amoxycillin 1.0g six hours later Oral cefuroxime axetil 1.0g one hour before procedure and oral cefuroxime axetil 1.0g six hours later Oral clindamycin 300mg one hour before procedure and oral clindamycin 150mg six hours later Oral clarithromycin 500mg one hour before procedure. No subsequent dose recommended. 4. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
§ Patients with oral pathology, such as abscesses and/or periodontal disease, are theoretically at increased risk of prosthetic joint infection. It is therefore prudent that all patients scheduled for prosthetic joint replacement should have a dental examination, and treatment as required, to reduce and remove sources of oral bacteraemia. § Patients with a prosthetic joint replacement should have a regular dental examination, and treatment as required, to remove sources of oral bacteraemia. § Routine use of antibiotic prophylaxis for all patients with a prosthetic joint replacement is not justified. § Antibiotic prophylaxis could be considered for dental procedures producing a significant bacteraemia (Table 2) in patients at increased risk of prosthetic joint replacement infection (Table 1). § When antibiotic prophylaxis is used for this particular group, it is recommended that patients receive the regimens recommended for a patient with moderate cardiac risk as recommended by Ellis-Pegler et al (1999) (Table 3).
5. REFERENCES
American Dental Association/American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Advisory statement: antibiotic prophylaxis for dental patients with total joint replacements. Journal of the American Dental Association 128, 1004, 1997. Ainscow DAP and Denham RA. The risk of haematogenous infection in total joint replacement. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 66B, 580, 1984. Bender IB, Naidorf IJ and Garvey GJ. Bacterial endocarditis: A consideration for physician and dentist. Journal of the American Dental Association 109, 415, 1984. Ellis -Pegler RB, KD Hay, Lang SDR, Neutze JM and Swinburn BA. Prevention of infective endocarditis associated with dental treatment and other medical interventions. Report No. 76 New Zealand National Heart Foundation: Auckland 1999. Everett ED and Hirschmann JV. Transient bacteraemia and endocarditis prophylaxis: a review. Medicine 56, 61, 1977. Guntheroth WG. How important are dental procedures as a cause of infective endocarditis? American Journal of Cardiology 54, 797, 1984. Holgate ST. Penicillin allergy: how to diagnose and when to treat. Editorial British Medical Journal 296, 1213, 1988. Jacobsen JJ and Matthews LS. Bacteria isolated from late prosthetic joint infections: dental treatment and chemoprophylaxis. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology 63 (1), 122, 1987. Mandell GL, Bennett JE and Dolin R (eds) in Mandell, Douglas and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Disease. 5th edition 2000. Churchill Livingstone. Thyne GM and Ferguson JW. Antibiotic prophylaxis during dental treatment in patients with prosthetic joints. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 73-B(2), 191, 1991. Tong DC and Rothwell BR. Antibiotic prophylaxis in dentistry: A review and practice recommendations. Journal of the American Dental Association 131, 366, 2000. New Zealand Dental Association Inc

Source: http://nzoa.org.nz/system/files/guidelines_for_antibiotic_prophylaxis-1_0.pdf