Increased antibiotic duration improves reoperation free survival after total hip arthroplasty irrigation and debridement.

Background: We aimed to determine if reoperation-free survival following irrigation and debridement (I&D) with head and liner exchange of infected primary THA is affected by: 1) postoperative antibiotic duration; 2) patient characteristics; 3) infecting organism; or 4) postoperative versus hematogenous infection.

Methods: Revision THAs from 2006 to 2012 (n = 1184) were observed; 26 underwent I&D with head and liner exchange with mean 4.1-year follow-up. Patients with reoperation for infection (n = 2) versus those without reoperation (n = 24) were analyzed.

Results: Increased postoperative antibiotic therapy duration (p = 0.0333) decreased risk of reoperation for infection.

Conclusion: Chronic antibiotic suppression should be considered following THA I&D with head and liner exchange.