Guidelines for the management of periprosthetic joint infection

A new programme of eLearning has been developed to provide all healthcare staff with information and guidance on how to manage patients with Prosthetic Joint Infection (PJI). It has been designed to support people in any healthcare role where they might be caring for someone with a suspected or actual prosthetic infection.   

This eLearning module aims to ensure that staff are able to recognise and refer patients for the correct treatment in a timely manner so that they have the best chances of a good recovery. 

The module provides essential information about Prosthetic Joint Infection, the Patient Experience of PJI, Guidelines for management of PJI, and key resources. A CPD certificate will be provided following the successful completion of the assessment. 

Prosthetic Joint Infection is one of the most devastating events that can occur after joint replacement and significantly impacts both patients and the surgeons who treat them. The outcomes of PJI can be vastly improved if best practice guidelines are adhered to. This module uses evidence-based guidelines as a basis for understanding how PJI guidelines are relevant to all healthcare professionals who look after patients who have had a joint replacement, and how best to manage those patients. 

The guidelines are the result of the INFORM: EP (INFection and ORthopaedic Management: Evidence into Practice) study, based on the evidence from a successful six-year research programme called INFORM led by the University of Bristol and funded by National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The guidelines aim to ensure that patients with infection after hip replacement surgery receive prompt and effective care and have the best chance of a good outcome.  

The INFORM website also has a list of additional support services for your patients that you can download and share with your patients which covers finance, mental health, hip and pain support, carers and family. It also offers counselling and other support services, as well as useful links for patients. 

For more information and to access the training, please visit the programme page.