[Special aspects of implant-associated infection in orthopedic surgery. From the pathophysiology to custom-tailored prevention strategies].

One of the most important risk factors in orthopedic surgery is implant-associated infection. Adhesion and colonization mediated implant infections are extremely resistant to antibiotics and host defences and frequently persist until the biomaterial or foreign body is removed, which is standard therapy. Tissue damage caused by surgery and foreign body implantation increases the susceptibility to infections, activates host defences and stimulates the generation of inflammatory mediators including radicals that are further aggravated by bacterial activity and toxins.