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Review
. 2021 Feb 1;6(2):93-100.
doi: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200118. eCollection 2021 Feb.

An update about molecular biology techniques to detect orthopaedic implant-related infections

Jaime Esteban  1 , Enrique Gómez-Barrena  2
Affiliations
Review

An update about molecular biology techniques to detect orthopaedic implant-related infections

Jaime Esteban et al. EFORT Open Rev. .

Abstract

Despite different criteria to diagnose a prosthetic joint infection (PJI), aetiological diagnosis of the causing microorganism remains essential to guide treatment.Molecular-biology-based PJI diagnosis is progressing (faster, higher specificity) in different techniques, from the experimental laboratory into clinical use.Multiplex polymerase chain reaction techniques (custom-made or commercial) provide satisfactory results in clinical series of cases, with specificity close to 100% and sensitivity over 70-80%.Next-generation metagenomics may increase sensitivity while maintaining high specificity.Molecular biology techniques may represent, in the next five years, a significant transformation of the currently available microbiological diagnosis in PJI. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:93-100. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200118.

Keywords: microbiological cultures; molecular diagnosis of PJI; prosthetic joint infection (PJI).

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Conflict of interest statement

ICMJE Conflict of interest statement: JE reports grants from Laboratorios Leti for evaluation of the Unyvero i60ITI System and from bioMérieux for evaluation of the new Biofire kit, and support for travel to meetings for the study or other purposes from bioMérieux related to the submitted work; payment for lectures including service on speakers’ bureaus from Hain, and travel/accommodation/meeting expenses unrelated to activities listed from Pfizer, not related to the submitted work. EGB reports Board membership of Pluristem (DSMB on HipGen CT) and research funding from Exactech, all unrelated to the submitted work.

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