Knee Replacement Infection

I feel for you and like everyone else, I wish you the best...and to never go through this again.

I met a guy at Boeing. He had the desk next to mine and was going through this. He told me about how he'd had the old knee taken out and a bag of anti-biotics put in instead for about six months. There were a bunch of complications. Long story short, I think he said he had been going through this for about 18 months. I was going to suggest he have my surgeon do the next knee replacement. Everything I'd heard about this surgeon was that he was one of the best in the area. Turns out that was who he had replace his knee.

I was in the area and so stopped by my surgeon's office. My TKR was in November 2015. I asked if I should still be taking anti-biotics for dental appointments. Even for dental cleanings. The nurse at the reception desk said they consider it mandatory for the first two years and highly recommended for the rest of your life. For a dental cleaning?!?!? This infection stuff is serious.

And if you're wondering why take anti-biotics for dental work when you have a knee replaced, as I understand it, the germs gravitate towards metal. How and why that happens, I don't know.

I'm glad you're on the mend. I hope and pray it stays trouble-free from now on.

Chris
 
Daboo said:
And if you're wondering why take anti-biotics for dental work when you have a knee replaced, as I understand it, the germs gravitate towards metal. How and why that happens, I don't know.
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I was going for a shoulder replacement that was supposed to happen April 5 (but did not...that's another story). I asked my doc at our meeting a month before the scheduled day about infections. He said there is no blood supply to plastic and metal joints and thus no white cells. Any ole bacteria that is floating around that finds the new joint looks at it as safe haven, and can get a foothold (well, knee or shoulder hold) to grow until it becomes a problem.
 
Weaselinsuit said:
Interesting. The up here the Canadian Dental Association, Canadian Orthopedic Association and Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (Canada) say prophylactic antibiotics are not recommended.

Much like lawyers, you ask three doctors for an opinion and you get three different opinions.....
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My position is that my original surgeon said definitely to do it so I'll go with the one that fixed me.
And my dentist always offers them but it is up to you to decide.
Besides, the small dose you receive will not harm you - it's not like you are taking them for 2 weeks. ;)
So I'll 'err' on the side of caution because it doesn't hurt and if it helps in any way to prevent what Keith just went through then it is well worth it.
 
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