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Short vs. Long Antibiotic Treatment of Implant-free Osteoarticular Infections

Short vs. Long Antibiotic Treatment of Implant-free Osteoarticular Infections

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03602209
Enrollment
120
Registered
2018-07-26
Start date
2015-03-01
Completion date
2018-05-18
Last updated
2018-08-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Implant Infection

Keywords

implant-related infections, orthopaedics, implant removal, antibiotic duration, outcome

Brief summary

The investigators tested the working hypothesis if 4 weeks of systemic antibiotic treatment in implant-related orthopaedic infections is non-inferior to 6 weeks after complete removal of the infected implant. Randomization 1:1. The study is completed. It halted prematurely and will not resume; participants are no longer being examined or receiving intervention.

Detailed description

Former description of the study (now completed) Osteoarticular infections related to orthopaedic implants are associated with substantial morbidity, prolongation of hospital stay, and additional costs. Due to the increasing number of patients with orthopaedic implants in Switzerland, similar to the rest of Europe and elsewhere, the number of infections is expected to increase. While the surgical treatment of these infections has been well studied, the ideal duration of antibiotic therapy after removal (explantation) of the infected implant remains unknown. For almost 40 years, the recommended total duration of post-explantation antibiotic therapy has been 6 weeks. This recommendation is based on expert's personal experience rather than on prospective randomized studies. Shorter treatment would decrease antibiotic-related adverse events and costs hospital stay for patients awaiting an eventual reinsertion of a new implant. If physicians and surgeon prescribe antibiotics for 6 weeks, this duration should be at least supported by evidence.

Interventions

PROCEDURERemoval of infected implant
DRUGAntibiotic durations

Sponsors

University Hospital, Geneva
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 120 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Adult patients (≥17 years old) * Total removal of the implant

Exclusion criteria

* Primary native joint septic arthritis; * Co-trimoxazole prophylaxis because of immunosuppression; * Left-side endocarditis; * Persistent implant material in the infected area. * Infections with tuberculosis; mycobacteria; fungi; brucellosis; borreliosis; nocardiosis; and mycoplasmal osteosynthesis infections

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Remission of infection12 monthsClinical evaluation
Adverse events12 monthsClinical adverse events

Countries

Switzerland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026