Culture and PCR analysis of joint fluid in the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection (original) (raw)

Epidemiology and new developments in the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection

The International Journal of Artificial Organs, 2012

Although prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a rare event after arthroplasty, it represents a significant complication that is associated with high morbidity, need for complex treatment, and substantial healthcare costs. An accurate and rapid diagnosis of PJI is crucial for treatment success. Current diagnostic methods in PJI are insufficient with 10–30% false-negative cultures. Consequently, there is a need for research and development into new methods aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy and speed of detection. In this article, we review available conventional diagnostic methods for the diagnosis of PJI (laboratory markers, histopathology, synovial fluid and periprosthetic tissue cultures), new diagnostic methods (sonication of implants, specific and multiplex PCR, mass spectrometry) and innovative techniques under development (new laboratory markers, microcalorimetry, electrical method, reverse transcription [RT]-PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH], biofilm microscop...

The current trend for prosthetic joint infection diagnosis from culture to molecular: a literature review

Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Pathogen identification in prosthetic joint infection is necessary to achieve optimal patient management. The specimens for diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection could be the synovial fluid, the tissue obtained intraoperatively, and the biofilm from the implanted prosthesis. Because of the low sensitivity of the conventional specimen culture method, the preanalytic treatment of the specimen was widely studied to increase the yield of detection. This review aimed to describe the current specimen processing methods used in the clinical setting to increase the pathogen detection rate. A blood culture bottle, tissue homogenization, and explanted prosthesis sonication were the most studied methods with a good result. Molecular methods were also developed to reduce the time of pathogen detection. MALDI-TOF was studied to reduce identification time after a positive culture. Other molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction and next-generation sequencing were studied to omit the c...

Molecular diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection. a review of evidence

Biomedical Papers, 2004

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) diagnosis includes several classes of verification. Among them, only a few have a stronger independent value, namely intraarticular purulence and communicating fistulas. Other diagnostic methods require careful test combinations, analysis, and interpretation. Molecular based techniques using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) seem to be a promising PJI diagnostic modality due to its excellent sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and speed. Most of the recent reviewers are in agreement that molecular diagnosis has enough potential for future application in orthopaedics even if there are only a few heterogeneous studies fully supporting this concept. Conversely, at least one study has been published with significantly worse results (sensitivity and specificity less than 0.75). The lack of supporting evidence in the published studies may be closely related to varying PCR laboratory procedures, inappropriate reference standards, and other methodological shortcomings among research centers. It is not yet justifiable to firmly include molecular methods into the present PJI diagnostic schemes. The orthopaedic community must await the results of well-organized ongoing studies before considering inclusion of molecular diagnostics as a PJI diagnostic method. The aim of this paper was to make a survey of current PJI molecular diagnostic techniques in orhopaedics.

A comprehensive review of the diagnosis and management of prosthetic joint infections in the absence of positive cultures

Journal of Infection and Public Health, 2016

The diagnosis and management of prosthetic joint infections (PJI) with negative cultures remains an enigma without clear definitions and guidelines for its management. In contrast, the literature offers guidelines to the diagnosis and management of culture positive prosthetic joint infections as noted in both the infectious disease literature and the orthopedic literature. This paper outlines the current state of knowledge of PJI with negative cultures and summarizes the recommendations for the work up and management of this condition. In addition, we propose a simple algorithm that clinicians may find useful for the management of PJI with negative cultures. This algorithm has not been validated with data at this point, but can be applied to practice to help direct the management and diagnosis of prosthetic joint infections in the absence of positive cultures.

Contribution of a multiplex serological test for the preoperative diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection: a prospective study

Infectious diseases (London, England), 2018

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a severe complication of orthopaedic surgery. Preoperative diagnosis, although sometimes difficult, is key to choose the relevant treatment. We conducted a prospective study aimed at evaluating the diagnostic performance of a multiplex serological test for the pre-operative diagnosis of PJI. Blood samples were collected between 1 July 2016 and 31 July 2017 among patients referred for suspected PJI that occurred at least six weeks prior. Infection diagnosis was confirmed using intraoperative bacteriological cultures during prosthetic exchange. Seventy-one patients were included, with a median age of 73 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 66-81) and 40 (56%) were male. Twenty-six patients had aseptic loosening and 45 patients had PJI. Among the latter, median time since the last surgery was 96 weeks (IQR: 20-324). Intraoperative cultures found Staphylococcus spp, Streptococcus spp or both in 39, 5 and 1 patients, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity...

Diagnosis of Prosthetic Joint Infection by Use of PCR-Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2013

We compared PCR-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR-ESI/MS) to culture using sonicate fluid from 431 subjects with explanted knee ( n = 270) or hip ( n = 161) prostheses. Of these, 152 and 279 subjects had prosthetic joint infection (PJI) and aseptic failure, respectively. The sensitivities for detecting PJI were 77.6% for PCR-ESI/MS and 69.7% for culture ( P = 0.0105). The specificities were 93.5 and 99.3%, respectively ( P = 0.0002).

Accuracy of different diagnostic tests for early, delayed and late prosthetic joint infection

BMC infectious diseases, 2017

A combination of laboratory, histopathological and microbiological tests for diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) have been strongly recommended. This study aims to characterize the accuracy of individual or group tests, such as culture of sonicate fluid, synovial fluid and peri-implant tissue, C-reactive protein (CRP) and histopathology for detection of early, delayed and late PJI. A prospective study of patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty from February 2009 to February 2014 was performed in a Spanish tertiary health care hospital. The diagnostic accuracy of the different methods was evaluated constructing receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curve areas. One hundred thirty consecutive patients were included: 18 (13.8%) early PJI, 35 (27%) delayed PJI and 77 (59.2%) late PJI. For individual parameters, the area under the ROC curve for peri-implant tissue culture was larger for early (0.917) than for delayed (0.829) and late PJI (0.778), p = 0.033. There was a s...

The use of polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis and management of prosthetic joint infections: a debatable issues at this time

International Journal of Research in Orthopaedics, 2019

Joint replacement surgery is increasing due to its success in decreasing pain and restoring function. Prosthetic joint infections (PJI) is one of the most detrimental complications of the surgery. These infections can either be acute or chronic and can be caused by a variety of organisms. Effective and efficient identification of the cause of infection is vital so that proper treatment can be provided. The use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a possibility for diagnosis and management of PJI with a reduction in the use of incorrect antibiotics. This is due to its ability to quickly diagnosis viral, bacterial, rickettsia, mycobacterial, and protozoal infection in hours. It also has high sensitivity and specificity even with antimicrobial usage and biofilm production. However, more studies need to be done in order to be able to classify it as a possible gold standard.