Data from large prospective cohort studies of prosthetic joint infections are lacking.

Aim of this study: analyzing prospectively the incidence of reinfection in patients with prosthetic hip infections who underwent surgery and received antibiotic therapy.

Hypothesis: to confirm in a large group that the incidence of reinfection after excision -synovectomy in acute prosthesis hip infection is 30% and 15% for chronic infection after exchange arthroplasty (one or two stage exchange).

Aim of the study: to analyze the incidence of reinfection in patients with prosthetic hip infection who underwent surgery and received antibiotic therapy Methods: prospective cohort study in a French referral center for osteoarticular infections from November 2002 to March 2010. Population

• all patients who consented to participate in the study with prosthetic hip infections treated by:
• debridement-synovectomy for acute infection or with one-stage or two-stage
• exchange arthroplasty or resection arthroplasty for chronic infection
• antibiotic therapy

Outcome:

• Follow-up: minimum of 2 years
• Events monitored: reinfection including relapse and new infection, joint revision for mechanical reasons, prosthetic hip infection related and non-related deaths

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with hip arthroplasty infection
• Surgical treatment: either debridement-synovectomy and prosthesis retention for acute infection or one or two-stage exchange arthroplasty or resection arthroplasty for chronic infection
• Antibiotic therapy
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prolonged suppressive antibiotic therapy
• No surgical treatment

Patients with hip arthroplasty infection who underwent surgery and received antibiotic therapy in a specialized French orthopaedic center for bone and joint infection.