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. 2025 Jul 26;14(15):5289.
doi: 10.3390/jcm14155289.

Changing Incidence, Aetiology and Outcomes of Prosthetic Joint Infections: A Population-Based Study in Iceland

Ingunn Haraldsdóttir  1 , Signy Lea Gunnlaugsdóttir  2 , Dagur Fridrik Kristjánsson  1 , Helga Erlendsdóttir  3 , Kristján Orri Helgason  3 , Elías Þór Gudbrandsson  4 , Bryndís Sigurdardóttir  5 , Magnús Gottfredsson  1   5   6
Affiliations

Changing Incidence, Aetiology and Outcomes of Prosthetic Joint Infections: A Population-Based Study in Iceland

Ingunn Haraldsdóttir et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The rising demand for total joint arthroplasty (TJA) and increasing incidence of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) significantly burden patients and healthcare systems. This retrospective study describes the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and outcomes of PJIs in Iceland from 2003 to 2020. Methods: PJI cases were identified through synovial fluid cultures and ICD codes, with classification per EBJIS criteria. Unlikely cases were excluded. Results: Among 293 cases with a mean age of 70 years, 60% (176/293) were males and 58% (171/293) involved the knee. Over half of infections occurred within two years post TJA, with an incidence rate of 0.94%, increasing significantly over time (p = 0.012). Males had significantly higher incidence rates than females (incidence rate ratio 0.42; p < 0.001). The most common pathogens were coagulase-negative staphylococci (30%, 88/293), and 9% (27/293) of cases were culture-negative. DAIR was the first-line treatment in about 50% (147/293) of cases but it failed in nearly half, contributing to an overall treatment failure rate of 38% (98/259). PJI-related mortality was 2% (6/293). Conclusions: The results indicate an increased incidence, with the highest risk within two years of TJA. Males are at greater risk, while females more commonly undergo TJA. DAIR success rates were lower than reported elsewhere but improved significantly over time. Better methods to prevent PJIs are needed.

Keywords: arthroplasty; debridement; epidemiology; incidence; microbiology; prosthesis-related infections; treatment outcome.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart showing identification of PJI cases, 2003–2020.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Incidence rate for all hip and knee PJIs from 2010 to 2020. Early and delayed infections (PJI < 2 years after index surgery), late infections (>2 years after index surgery) and all PJIs combined. (b) Early and delayed infection rates per knee procedure from 2010 to 2020. (c) Early and delayed infection rates per hip procedure from 2010 to 2020.
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