Humidity a potential risk factor for prosthetic joint infection in a tropical Australian hospital.

Background: Many pathogens of importance, including the staphylococcal species of concern in orthopaedics, demonstrate seasonal variations influenced by environmental factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of humidity as a risk factor for deep prosthetic joint infection following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in a tropical Australian hospital.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of all TKAs performed over a 13-year period was conducted at the author's institution.