Preoperative Staphylococcus aureus nasal screening and decolonization for the prevention of periprosthetic joint infection in elective total joint arthroplasty: A single-center retrospective comparative study

Introduction

Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently implicated pathogen in periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) and surgical site infections (SSIs), with nasal colonization being a well-established risk factor for their onset. Despite this association, the role of routine preoperative screening and decolonization in reducing postoperative infection rates remains debated.