Efficacy and Safety Study of Antibiotic Treatment to Treat Hip Prosthetic Joint Infection

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of oral linezolid-rifampin combination therapy (over 4 or 6 weeks) versus the standard of care in the treatment of Gram-positive prosthetic hip joint infection with a one-stage surgical treatment.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men or women ≥ 18 to ≤ 80 years of age, weight ≥ 40 kg, BMI \< 35, who have received a diagnosis of chronic PJI (lasting more than 4 weeks but less than 24 months) requiring a one-stage surgical procedure and presenting at least ONE of the following clinical signs and symptoms:

   1. Joint pain
   2. Effusion
   3. Erythema and sensation of heat at the implant site
   4. Limited range of motion in the affected joint
2. Intraoperative microbiological specimens: during the surgical resection, 5 separate surgical specimens (at least 3) must be sent for culture and susceptibility testing. These specimens must be taken from different locations such as: Hip capsule, femoral membrane, acetabular membrane, synovium, and synovial fluid with separate instruments. A minimum of 2 surgical specimens must be positive. If a preoperative puncture revealed the presence of an acceptable (Gram+) pathogen, it is acceptable if only one pathogen similar to the previously revealed one is identified during the surgical procedure.
3. Documented presence of Gram-positive bacteria as sole pathogen responsible for the infection.

   Note: This criterion must be verified after obtaining the results of the susceptibility test performed on the specimens taken during the surgical procedure. The verification will occur between Day 2 and Day 7 of the study.
4. All patients must undergo 1-stage revision surgery.
5. IRB or IEC approved informed consent form signed and dated. Informed consent will be obtained from each patient before participation in this research study. If any patient is unable to give consent, it may be obtained from the patient's next of kin or legal representative in accordance with current laws and regulations.
6. Willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, up to 6 weeks of treatment with the study antibiotics, laboratory tests, and other study procedures.
7. Patient entitled to Health System benefits or other such benefits

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Concerning women of childbearing age:

   1. intake of oral contraceptives (estroprogestins and progestins)
   2. unability to use adequate mechanical contraceptive precautions
   3. a positive pregnancy test result within 72 hours prior to randomization
   4. pregnant, or are currently breastfeeding and unwilling to discontinue breastfeeding during therapy
2. Patients with a prosthetic joint infection caused by: Gram-negative, mixed Gram-negative and Gram-positive, fungal, or mycobacterial microorganisms. If a previous radiologically guided puncture has revealed the presence of a Gram-negative microorganism, the patient must not be enrolled in this study.
3. Platelet count less than 100 ×103/mm3 at the time of the examination performed during the screening period.
4. Hemoglobin \< 9 g/dL at the time of the examination performed during the screening period.
5. Infection affecting several joints.
6. Rheumatological disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.)
7. Previously diagnosed immune function disease(s) (e.g., AIDS), neutropenia (neutrophils \< 1000/mm3).
8. Alcoholism or substance abuse sufficient, in the investigator's judgment, to prevent treatment adherence to the study drug and/or follow-up.
9. Patients currently in peritoneal dialysis or receiving another treatment for renal failure (e.g., hemofiltration, CVVH).
10. Liver failure with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and/or total bilirubin levels upper or egal to 5 times the upper limit of normal.
11. Patients with other concurrent serious infections such as: endocarditis, meningitis, or central nervous system (CNS) infections, decubitus and ischemic ulcers with underlying osteomyelitis, necrotizing fasciitis, gas gangrene. If suspected, these diagnoses must be ruled out prior to enrollment in the study.
12. Previous randomization in this protocol.
13. Not expected or not likely to survive for the entire duration of the treatment period and TOC (12 months after the end of treatment).
14. Hypersensitivity to the study drugs or their excipients.
15. Identification of a pathogen resistant to the investigational drugs.
16. Patients treated with a protease inhibitor(e.g. indinavir, ritonavir), or with delavirdine, or with nevirapine.
17. Patients treated or having been treated within two weeks prior surgery with an MAOI (A or B), an antiserotonergic drug, a tricyclic antidepressant, an agonist of 5HT1-receptor(triptan), a direct or indirect sympathomimetic drug (including adrenergic bronchodilator, pseudoephedrin, phenylpropanolamin), a vasopressor (adrenalin, noradrenalin), dopaminergic drug, pethidin or buspirone,
18. Patients with a degenerative neurological disease (Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, etc.).
19. Patient presenting an uncontrolled hypertension, a pheochromocytoma, a carcinoid syndrome, a hyperthyroidism, a bipolar depression, a dysthymic schizophrenia, an acute confusional state, pophyria or a history of retrobulbar optic neuritis.
20. Patient who is participating or has participated in a clinical trial in the month prior to the study screening visit.