Urgent analysis of joint fluid is a common test in patients with possible septic arthritis (bacterial infection of a joint). One aspect of this test, called the Gram stain, is considered important clinically, but previous single hospital studies have suggested it will miss a considerable number of infections. This large multi-hospital UK study assessed this test and found that it will miss 73 % of infections, questioning its value. More research on rapid tests using new technologies is required.

We compared the re-revision rates in rTHA and rTKA (revison total hip and knee arthroplasty) with and without AB (antibiotic) treatment in patients with UPICs (unexpected positive intraoperative cultures). The re-revision rate between the AB group and the non-AB group was similar. Postoperative AB treatment did not result in a decreased re-revision rate in patients with UPICs in presumed aseptic rTHA and rTKA. Patients with pathogens classified as a likely contaminant can be safely ignored.

This is a retrospective diagnostic study in acute postoperative prosthetic joint infection in total knee arthroplasty that wants to determine diagnostic accuracy of synovial glucose and serum-to-synovial glucose ratio in acute postoperative infection. Both tests demonstrated good diagnostic potential. Notably, these biomarkers exhibited superior accuracy compared to the combination of C-reactive protein, synovial white blood cell count and polymorphonuclear percentage.

We explore optimising antibiotic use to prevent infections in endoprosthetic replacement for bone tumours. We found 26 % of infections were linked to initial surgery, with most due to secondary factors like wound complications. The main bacteria are Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci. Our findings suggest targeting these bacteria with prophylactic antibiotics and applying measures to prevent secondary infections to improve infection control in orthopaedic oncology.

Our 10-year multicenter study examines the epidemiology, presentation, management, and outcomes of elbow native joint septic arthritis, a rare condition with risks like reoperation and mortality. Common symptoms included pain and swelling. Synovial fluid white blood cell counts were often low, with monosodium urate crystals also noted. Staphylococcus aureus was the main pathogen, and 72.2 % of patients underwent open debridement.

Our goal was to evaluate the results of two-stage revision of hip periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) over a 20-year period. Our arthroplasty unit is the largest in Ireland. We obtained data for a large number of cases (158 hips) with mid-term to long-term follow-up. Our analysis has found an infection-free survival rate of 84.2 % at 10 years, which was comparable with the best available outcomes. Most of the previously published risk factors were not predictive of failure in our study.

Antibiotics are often used to reduce the rate of recurrent periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in patients with prior PJI. This study found that patients treated with such prophylactic antibiotics had an increased rate of infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms in any recurrent PJIs that occurred.

To improve the existing knowledge and treatment of bone and joint infections, it is essential to unite medical disciplines and bridge the gap between basic and clinical sciences. In 2018, the Centrum fOr translational Medicine on Bone and joint INfEctions (COMBINE) was created to facilitate collaboration among Danish scientists and researchers dedicated to bone and joint infection research. This paper aims to share the COMBINE approach and values.