Integrated IT Platform for Coordination of Diagnosis, Treatment, and Aftercare of Prosthetic Joint Infections

Abstract

Background/aim: Prosthetic joint infections (PJI) are difficult to diagnose and treat. For a correct diagnosis, an array of information has to be processed and weighted. Successful treatment depends on the diagnosis, timing, and surgical strategy paired with treatment of the infectious agent. The complexity and interdisciplinarity needed cause difficulties concerning decision-making, the communication between disciplines, and the execution of a treatment strategy. The aim of this study was to develop a software platform to enhance the collection of information for the diagnosis of PJI, the interdisciplinary decision-making process, the communication between team members, and continuous evaluation of treatment.

Patients and methods: In regular planning sessions with an information technology (IT) specialist, a concept for an IT solution was chosen and the tool was designed in an interdisciplinary approach.

Results: The tool has been used as a trial version since June 2017. It consists of 14 user interfaces with 431 items. A total of 117 patients with 118 infections have been entered and the strategy decided upon and communicated using 298 infection board documents outlining the treatment. The tool is now being used to organize the infections board agenda, schedule patient case discussions, document the relevant data and treatment plan, as well as communicate with the other teams involved in the treatment.

Conclusion: Using the developed tool enables the infections team to work collaboratively and under division of labor on each case, rendering the work flow more efficient for each team member.

Keywords: Infection board; PJI; antibiotic stewardship; interdisciplinary; prosthetic joint infections.