New antibiotic flush could beat stubborn joint infections
NCT ID NCT04662632
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested a device that delivers antibiotics directly to an infected hip or knee joint for 7 days after replacement surgery. 76 adults with joint infections were randomly assigned to get either the local antibiotic irrigation plus standard care, or standard care alone. The goal was to see if the new approach improves success rates at 90 days and beyond, including survival and infection control.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Vancomycin hydrochloride and tobramycin sulfate
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a more effective way to treat joint infections after replacement surgery, potentially reducing the need for long-term antibiotics.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small Phase 2 trial with only 76 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The treatment involves surgery and local antibiotics, which carry risks like allergic reactions or kidney problems.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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76 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 2021
- Finished
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Dec 2023
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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22 to 84 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Scheduled for two-stage exchange arthroplasty due to hip or knee PJI * Signed informed consent * 22 to 84 years of age (inclusive) * Medical clearance for surgery * Preoperative diagnosis of PJI of the hip or knee per the International Consensus Meeting of Musculoskeletal Infection 2018 definition of Periprosthetic Hip and Knee Infection Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with 2 or more prior one-stage or two-stage exchange arthroplasties of the infected joint; * Patients with acute PJI, defined as total joint arthroplasty surgery within 4 weeks prior to enrollment (Stage 1) in this study; * Patients with bacteremia or positive bacterial blood culture in the last 30 days; * Patients with concurrent PJI of more than one joint; * Patients with ongoing active infection of an intravenous site; * Patients who require long-term anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy, and for whom bridging or withholding therapy is not recommended based on the individual's clinical condition; * Patients with advanced renal insufficiency (chronic kidney disease Stage 4 or greater or glomerular filtration rate \<30 mL/min); * Patients on chemotherapy for malignant disease; * Patients on systemic glucocorticoid therapy (prednisone \>10 mg/day or equivalent); * Patients with immunodeficiency (e.g., splenectomy, sickle cell anemia, Stage 3 human immunodeficiency virus infection, primary immunodeficiency disease, except immunodeficiency due to immunosuppressive therapy). * Patients who have an allergy to vancomycin hydrochloride or tobramycin sulfate (Note: prior history of red man syndrome is not considered an allergy); * Patients who have an allergy to titanium, titanium alloys, polymethylmethacrylate or polyurethane. * Patients who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next 12 months; * Patients in whom negative pressure wound therapy is contraindicated; * Patients with a fungal PJI; * Patients who have a skeletal defect greater than 150 mm in length in the tibia or femur of the infected joint; * Patients who have a planned surgical procedure within 6 months of enrollment that can impact the conduct of the study; * Patients who are breastfeeding at the screening visit; * Patients who are incarcerated or are facing impending incarceration; * Patients who have been in treatment or referred for treatment for substance abuse within the past year; * Patients with any medical condition, including schizophrenia or another psychiatric disorder with hallucinations and/or delusions, that would interfere with the interpretation of the study results, the conduct of the study, or patient participation would not be in the best interest of the patient in the opinion of the Study Site Principal Investigator; * Patients who will participate in another clinical study of an investigational drug or investigational device or have participated in another clinical study of an investigational drug or investigational device within the past 30 days that would interfere with the interpretation of the study results or conduct of the study; * Patients who are judged by the Investigator to be unsuitable for the study. * Patients receiving immunosuppressive drug therapy for bone marrow or another transplant; * Patients currently or previously enrolled in this study; * Patients who receive therapy including any of the following biologic agents, which will not be withheld for a period beginning at least one dosing cycle (minimum 7 days) prior to Stage 1 surgery and ending at least 14 days following Stage 2 surgery: Adalimumab (Humira) Tocilizumab (Actemra) Etanercept (Enbrel) Anakinra (Kineret) Golimumab (Simponi) Secukinumab (Cosentyx) Infliximab (Remicade) Ustekinumab (Stelara) Abatacept (Orencia) Rituximab (Rituxan) Certolizumab (Cimzia) Tofacitinib (Xeljanz) Belimumab (Benlysta)
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Cleveland Clinic
Weston, Florida, 33331, United States
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Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
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Columbia
New York, New York, 10032, United States
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Covenant Medical Center
Saginaw, Michigan, 48602, United States
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Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, California, 90502, United States
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Integris Southwest Medical Center
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73103, United States
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New York University
New York, New York, 10003, United States
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Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, 43202, United States
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OrthoCarolina Research Institute, Inc
Charlotte, North Carolina, 28207, United States
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Rothman Orthopaedic Institute
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States
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Texas Health Presbyterian
Plano, Texas, 75093, United States
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UVA Orthopedics Center
Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903, United States
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University of Arizona, Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona, 85004, United States
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University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, 32611, United States
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University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky, 40506, United States
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University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108, United States
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VA Medical Center
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20422, United States
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