ECRI Institute to Host Webinar on Antibiotic Bone Cement for Joint Replacement

Should antibiotic bone cement products be used in place of standard bone cement products to prevent infection after standard total hip or knee replacement surgery? That's a question that the experts at ECRI Institute have been fielding frequently as of late. While there isn't a simple answer, ECRI Institute, an independent nonprofit dedicated to researching the best approaches to patient care, will tackle issues and evidence surrounding bone cement-both antibiotic-laced and standard cements-in its February 18 educational webinar, "Antibiotic Bone Cement: Fighting Infection or Fighting Your Bottom Line?"

Subject matter experts from ECRI Institute's health technology assessment and supply price benchmarking services will review today's most popular antibiotic-laced and standard bone cements, and provide guidance for selecting products based on the best available clinical evidence and pricing data for the appropriate joint replacement procedure. Specifically, the webinar will examine the following:
• Clinical evidence for the role of antibiotic bone cement in preventing deep infection
• Current methods to reduce risk of infection
• Commercially available antibiotic bone cement products and how they compare to standard products
• Market share of antibiotic cements
• Prices paid by hospitals based on ECRI Institute data

The webinar is designed to help value analysis committees with orthopedic and spine product oversight, clinical trauma teams, surgeons, and supply chain professionals make more informed decisions on bone cement products based on cost and clinical evidence.

"Our independent, unbiased research will help hospitals get a clearer picture of whether antibiotic bone cement products really do a better job at preventing infection than standard products, and when they should and should not be used. Appropriate evidence-based utilization can help hospitals save money," says Diane Robertson, director of health technology assessment information service at ECRI Institute.

"From a pricing perspective, we'll offer a glimpse into the current market share of antibiotic and standard bone cement products, and take a look at the lowest, average, and highest prices paid so hospitals will have a starting point for investigating opportunities for savings," says Timothy Browne, director of PriceGuide advisory service at ECRI Institute.

The webinar will provide attendees with ample time to interact with the panel during the Q&A session and also encourages participation.

This live activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). ECRI Institute is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

ECRI Institute designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity has been approved for 1.5 California State Nursing contact hours by the provider, Debora Simmons, who is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 13677.

To learn more or to register, visit www.ecri.org/bonecement or contact ECRI Institute by e-mail at circulation2@ecri.org; by telephone at (610) 825-6000, ext. 5889; by fax at (610) 834-0240; or by mail at 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462-1298, USA.

Source:  ECRI Institute