Prophylaxis with nasal decolonization in patients submitted to total knee and hip arthroplasty: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Despite the evolution of the total knee and hip arthroplasty surgery, high postoperative complication rates in the short and long term still persist. Infection is one of the most challenging complications; due to its gravity and treatment difficulties, prophylaxis protocols have been created to decrease its incidence. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the prophylaxis protocol for methicillin-resistant decolonization of the nares in patients previously identified by swab cultures, who were to be submitted to a total joint arthroplasty.