INFORM research 2014 – 2024
The impact of infection
Over 161,000 primary hip or knee replacements were undertaken in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2012. About 1 person in 100 develops a bacterial infection at their new, artificial (prosthetic) joint.
Prosthetic joint infection is described as “devastating” and “associated with unbearable suffering.” If untreated, these infections can result in severe pain, persistent dislocation and death.
Finding the answers through research
INFORM and INFORM: Evidence into Practice are National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded grants. Researchers, surgeons and patients from around the UK and Europe joined together to design and deliver the INFORM research programme. Since then, the research team, led by the University of Bristol, have investigated why some patients develop infections after their hip or knee replacement surgery, and which type of surgical revision treatment is best.
Turning evidence into practice
Following the successful six-year INFORM programme, researchers, orthopaedic surgeons, GPs, rehabilitation specialists, commissioners and patients from around the UK worked together using expert consensus methods to develop best practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of prosthetic hip infection as part of the INFORM Evidence into Practice study.
New guidelines to improve care
The entire body of work has resulted in the implementation of evidence-based guidelines across UK Orthopaedic centers.
Along with their implementation, the research team has also produced resources to support healthcare professionals in using the guidelines.