Advance pre-operative chlorhexidine preparation reduces periprosthetic infections following total joint arthroplasty

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an advance pre-operative chlorhexidine gluconate preparation protocol on the incidence of surgical site infections following total joint arthroplasty. In our review of 4671 patients at our institution, between 2007 and 2011, we found a significantly lower incidence of periprosthetic infections in the advance preparation group (0.5% and 0.6%) when compared to patients receiving in-hospital perioperative skin preparation only (1.7% and 2.2%) following total hip and knee arthroplasty, respectively. Chlorhexidine cloths may be more efficacious than other antiseptic methods at reducing surgical site infections following lower extremity total joint arthroplasty.