Efficacy and safety of vancomycin for local application in the prevention of surgical site infection after joint arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to explore the effect of topical vancomycin powder (VP) in surgical site infection (SSI) prevention and adverse events after joint arthroplasty and to provide a specific theoretical basis for clinical treatment.

Methods: The review process was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Two independent researchers meticulously screened the literature based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, evaluated the quality of the selected studies, and extracted relevant data. Data analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 software.

Results: This meta-analysis included 24 studies encompassing a total of 34 811 patients. The pooled analysis showed that the topical administration of VP significantly reduced the incidence of SSI. Subgroup analyses by doses, type of joint (hip and knee), and type of surgery (primary and revision) confirmed that vancomycin consistently lowered SSI rates. Moreover, the incidence of SSI caused by gram-negative germs and gram-positive germs decreased following the use of VP, although the reduction was not significant for infections caused by MRSA. However, the use of VP was associated with a significant increase in sterile complications at the incision site and delayed incision healing.

Conclusion: The topical application of VP is effective in reducing the incidence of infections following joint arthroplasty. Despite an increased risk of complications such as delayed healing of incisions, the pros and cons should be weighed in clinical decision-making. However, it should not be discarded due to side effects.