Isolation of patients with musculoskeletal infections in orthopedic care is controversial. Evidence supports selective isolation for certain resistant pathogens but not for non-resistant pathogens, nor does it support the routine use of septic wards. Effective infection control depends on hospital-wide strategies and adherence to standard precautions, with specialized centres offering better care than dedicated isolation units.

This meta-analysis evaluates synovial fluid white blood cell count and polymorphonuclear neutrophil proportion in order to diagnose chronic peri-prosthetic joint infection. Based on 74 studies, it identifies optimal thresholds, with rule-in and rule-out thresholds enhancing diagnostic precision. Confounding factors such as fractures and inflammatory arthritis are addressed. The findings support standardized diagnostic frameworks in improving accuracy and clinical consistency.

This is a summary of our position paper on debridement, antimicrobial therapy, and implant retention (DAIR) procedures as a curative treatment strategy for acute periprosthetic hip and knee infections. It includes the defined indications as well as the contraindications of DAIR procedures when eradication/cure is intended, based on the currently available literature. 

In this paper, we discuss the most relevant factors influencing the outcome and define indications, contraindications, and risk factors of a DAIR procedure based on the currently available literature. Furthermore, we discuss the surgical technique in combination with systemic antimicrobial therapy in patients undergoing a DAIR procedure.

This study validated three models for predicting infection after hip and knee replacement surgery. By analyzing data from 2684 patients in the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, we found that the models developed by Tan, Del Toro, and Bülow effectively identified high-risk patients. These models can be used to enhance preoperative counseling and to tailor infection prevention measures individually, potentially improving outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.