Articles | Volume 10, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-10-437-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-10-437-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Rapid pathogen detection in synovial fluid of acute native joint infections in adults: a clinical evaluation of a novel automated multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) system
Lukas Rabitsch
Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Markus Luger
Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Felix Lötsch
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Comprehensive Centre for Infection Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Peter Starzengruber
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Comprehensive Centre for Infection Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Florian Thalhammer
Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Reinhard Windhager
Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Birgit Willinger
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Comprehensive Centre for Infection Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Irene Katharina Sigmund
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Laura K. Certain and Irene K. Sigmund
J. Bone Joint Infect., 10, 397–402, https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-10-397-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-10-397-2025, 2025
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The Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) and the European Bone and Joint Infection Society (EBJIS) are comprised of experts in preventing, diagnosing, and managing orthopedic infections. In 2023, MSIS and EBJIS surveyed their membership about their approach to various clinical aspects of these challenging conditions. The results indicate that, even among experts, there remains substantial variability of practice. This variability reflects open questions in the field.
Irene K. Sigmund, Matthew J. Dietz, Marta Sabater-Martos, Antony J. R. Palmer, Nicolas Cortés-Penfield, and the “Serum Marker Workgroup” for the Unified PJI Definition Taskforce
J. Bone Joint Infect., 10, 363–376, https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-10-363-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-10-363-2025, 2025
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Serum C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and interleukin-6 show the best performance among serum markers for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), but they lack sufficient accuracy to confirm or exclude infection reliably. These markers should be re-evaluated in future PJI definitions, as they are not suitable as stand-alone tests. Given their limitations and the superior diagnostic performance of synovial markers, the role of serum markers in PJI diagnosis should be reconsidered.
Irene K. Sigmund, Marjan Wouthuyzen-Bakker, Tristan Ferry, Willem-Jan Metsemakers, Martin Clauss, Alex Soriano, Rihard Trebse, and Ricardo Sousa
J. Bone Joint Infect., 10, 139–142, https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-10-139-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-10-139-2025, 2025
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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.
Irene K. Sigmund, Tristan Ferry, Ricardo Sousa, Alex Soriano, Willem-Jan Metsemakers, Martin Clauss, Rihard Trebse, and Marjan Wouthuyzen-Bakker
J. Bone Joint Infect., 10, 101–138, https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-10-101-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-10-101-2025, 2025
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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.
Stéphanie Pascual, Brooklyn Noble, Nusreen Ahmad-Saeed, Catherine Aldridge, Simone Ambretti, Sharon Amit, Rachel Annett, Shaan Ashk O'Shea, Anna Maria Barbui, Gavin Barlow, Lucinda Barrett, Mario Berth, Alessandro Bondi, Nicola Boran, Sara E. Boyd, Catarina Chaves, Martin Clauss, Peter Davies, Ileana T. Dianzo-Delgado, Jaime Esteban, Stefan Fuchs, Lennart Friis-Hansen, Daniel Goldenberger, Andrej Kraševac Glaser, Juha O. Groonroos, Ines Hoffmann, Tomer Hoffmann, Harriet Hughes, Marina Ivanova, Peter Jezek, Gwennan Jones, Zeynep Ceren Karahan, Cornelia Lass-Flörl, Frédéric Laurent, Laura Leach, Matilde Lee Horsbøll Pedersen, Caroline Loiez, Maureen Lynch, Robert J. Maloney, Martin Marsh, Olivia Milburn, Shanine Mitchell, Luke S. P. Moore, Lynn Moffat, Marianna Murdjeva, Michael E. Murphy, Deepa Nayar, Giacomo Nigrisoli, Fionnuala O'Sullivan, Büşra Öz, Teresa Peach, Christina Petridou, Mojgan Prinz, Mitja Rak, Niamh Reidy, Gian Maria Rossolini, Anne-Laure Roux, Patricia Ruiz-Garbajosa, Kordo Saeed, Llanos Salar-Vidal, Carlos Salas Venero, Mathyruban Selvaratnam, Eric Senneville, Peter Starzengruber, Ben Talbot, Vanessa Taylor, Rihard Trebše, Deborah Wearmouth, Birgit Willinger, Marjan Wouthuyzen-Bakker, Brianne Couturier, and Florence Allantaz
J. Bone Joint Infect., 9, 87–97, https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-9-87-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-9-87-2024, 2024
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This study conducted in multiple sites across Europe aimed to evaluate the BIOFIRE Joint Infection (JI) Panel, a new technology that uses multiplex PCR to detect microorganisms in synovial fluid of patients with suspicion of joint infections in 1 h, in comparison with synovial fluid culture. Results showed an overall agreement of 85 % to 88.4 % between the two methods. The JI Panel detected additional organisms, and the positive user experience highlights its clinical significance.
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Short summary
The novel multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR), BioFire® Joint Infection Panel (BF-JIP; bioMérieux, Marcy-l’Étoile, France), demonstrated similar diagnostic accuracy to conventional synovial fluid culture and can therefore serve as a valuable adjunct in diagnosing septic arthritis in adults, particularly in patients with prior antimicrobial therapy.
The novel multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR), BioFire® Joint Infection Panel (BF-JIP;...