Infection in Total Knee Arthroplasty

The specter of deep infection continues to temper the optimism regarding total knee arthroplasty (TKA), despite an incidence of less than 1–3%. Infection after TKA is a topic of interest because of its diagnostic challenges, requisite intensity of care, and compromised outcomes. Efforts at reducing the rate of infection have allowed the identification of significant risk factors and the establishment of protocols for prevention. Substantial progress has been made in the approach toward the diagnosis and treatment of the infected TKA. The primary goal of treatment in most patients with an infected TKA is the eradication of the infecting pathogen. Efforts aimed at achieving this goal should ideally result in a painless and functional extremity; however, function is occasionally sacrificed to clear the infection.