What is the standard antibiotic prophylaxis for prosthetic joint surgery?
The goal of perioperative antibiotics is to reduce organism burden and prevent postoperative infection. For joint replacement surgery, cefazolin is typically used, dosed at 1 g IV within 60 minutes of incision, then every 8 hours for 1 day postoperatively. Vancomycin, 1 g IV every 12 hours (or renal dosing), may be used in patients who are allergic to penicillin. There are no data to support the use of prophylactic antibiotics for >24 hours postoperatively. Other measures to reduce postoperative infection include skin cleansing preoperatively with agents such as chlorhexidine.
