Our free Joint Endeavors education class helps prepare you for your hip or knee replacement surgery at Rush Copley Medical Center.
What Our Joint Endeavors Class Covers
Our surgery education class is held virtually and in-person. Rush Copley's Total Joint Replacement Coordinator will lead the class and provide you with a surgical packet.
We provide the following:
- Pre-surgery testing for bacteria to prevent infection post-operatively
- Information on preparing for, and recovering from, joint replacement surgery
- Special soap to bathe with before surgery to prevent infection post-operatively
Preventing Infection After Joint Replacement Surgery
- Most patients do well after a hip or knee replacement surgery. However, 1 to 2% of patients may develop an infection after the operation. An infection in your joint may cause you to need antibiotics or more surgery and increase the time it takes for you to recover.
- All people carry bacteria on their skin, in their hair and in their nose, mouth and stomach. The normal bacteria that we carry can cause infection after surgery. One such bacterium is called Staphylococcus aureus. About 20 to 25% of people carry it in their nose, where it usually does not cause a problem.
- To decrease your risk of infection after joint surgery, we test you to find out if you carry Staphylococcus aureus in your nose.
Testing for Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria
- We will check for two types of Staphylococcus aureus: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA).
- If you are positive for MRSA or MSSA in your nose, a prescription for a medication called mupirocin (Bactroban) will be called into your pharmacy. You will put a small amount of this ointment on a cotton swab in your nostril every morning and evening for five days, starting five days before the day of surgery. This medicine will kill the Staphylococcus aureus.
- A positive test does not mean you have an infection, only that you tested positive for carrying this bacteria. Your surgery will not be canceled if you test positive. However, you may be at higher risk for developing a surgical infection if you do not get treated before surgery.
Pre-surgery Bathing
- Another way to decrease infection is to clean your skin with special soap before your surgery.
- We provide all joint surgery patients with antibacterial soap called Hibiclens (chlorhexidine gluconate).
- This soap helps reduce bacteria on your skin before surgery and needs to be used whether you tested positive or negative for Staphylococcus aureus.
- You will also be given complete instructions on how to use this soap before your surgery.
Class Details
When: First and third Wednesday of the month at 11 a.m.; Second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m.
Where: First, second and third Wednesdays are at Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora. The fourth Wednesday is at Rush Copley Healthcare Center in Yorkville. All classes are offered virtually via Webex at the same time as the in-person class.
Registering for class: Registration is required, unless you have taken the class within the past two years. To best meet your educational and testing needs, select a class within 7 to 30 days before your surgery. Please register online or call (888) 352-7874 to sign up for this free class. For any additional questions or assistance, please call Rush Copley’s Total Joint Replacement Coordinator at (630) 898-3849.