Lifelong Precautions to Prevent Infection

Preventing infection is extremely important for the rest of your life. Your new joint is artificial and doesn't have your body's natural protection against infection. Bacteria from a variety of sources can enter your bloodstream and invade the area surrounding your new joint. This can eventually cause it to become loose and painful. A list of possible sources of infection follows, along with things you can do to minimize the risk to your new joint.

Dental Work: cleaning, drilling, extraction, root canal

Take antibiotics the day of your dental work. Call your doctor's office for a prescription.

Urinary tract or bladder infection

Symptoms: pain, burning, fever, blood in the urine, increased need to urinate. See your internist immediately.

Other Infections

Symptoms: pain, fever, redness, or drainage. See your internist immediately.

Any invasive procedure, for example: proctoscope, cystoscope, endoscope.

Inform your doctor doing the procedure that you have an artificial joint and need to be given antibiotics to protect it during these tests.