Orthopedic Infectious Diseases Online Library
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Background: Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality following knee replacement surgery. The diagnosis can be challenging and is based on a combination of clinical suspicion, radiographic findings and also biochemical/ microbiological investigations. Our Aim was to review the role of aspiration and biopsy in the diagnosis of PJI in Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). Method/results: Aspirated synovial fluid should be analysed by direct culture, via blood culture bottles, EDTA bottles for cell count and ‘point of care’ testing such as leucocyte esterase or alpha defensin. Synovial WCC and PMN cell percentage are important steps in diagnosis of both acute and chronic PJI. A minimum of 5 deep samples using a 5 clean instrument technique should be obtained and sent for tissue culture done either blind or arthroscopic. Formal fluoroscopic guided interface biopsy has also been described with excellent results. In a recent series of 86 TKRs preoperative arthroscopic biopsy group had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 94.7%, positive predictive value of 87.4% and a negative predictive value of 100%. Conclusion: In the presence of clinical suspicion with raised biomarkers, it is recommended that aspiration +/- biopsy with synovial fluid testing is performed. Direct culture and cell count are recommended. ‘Point of care tests’ such as Leucocyte Esterase testing should be considered. Duration of culture, including pathogen and host factors, should be discussed with a local microbiology/ID department in the context of a formal multidisciplinary team.
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Background Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is considered one of the most successful surgical procedures ever developed. It can successfully provide pain relief, restore joint function, and improve mobility and quality of life. Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) presents with a wide variety and severity of signs and symptoms. It remains a major threat to the outcome of TJA procedures and usually necessitates surgical intervention and prolonged courses of antibiotics. Inappropriate treatment of an unrecognized PJI usually ends with unacceptable and sometimes catastrophic results. The aim The understanding and evaluation of diagnostic investigations are extremely important to properly diagnose PJI, including frequently unrecognized low-grade infections, and to provide healthcare professionals with needed information for the care of patients affected by this condition. This article aims to review most of the methods available in PJI diagnostics, to emphasize the strengths and the weaknesses of each of them, and to provide a guideline on how to select the surgical treatment strategy based on the level of diagnostic certainty during the evaluation period. To safely accomplish this, it is crucial to be aware of the limitations of each diagnostic modality. The focus The emphasis will be on the use and interpretation of the core criteria for PJI diagnosis, including the pathognomonic sinus tract communicating with the implant, purulent synovial fluid, inflammation in the periprosthetic tissue, cell count with differential, microbial growth in the synovial fluid culture, tissue sample cultures, and sonication samples.