Molecular Approach for the Laboratory Diagnosis of Periprosthetic Joint Infections
Giulia Gatti, Francesca Taddei, Martina Brandolini, Andrea Mancini, Agnese Denicolò, Francesco Congestrì, Martina Manera, Valentina Arfilli, A. Battisti, Silvia Zannoli, Maria Michela Marino, Anna Marzucco, Manuela Morotti, Laura Grumiro, Agata Scalcione, Giorgio Dirani, Monica Cricca, Vittorio Sambri
Abstract
The incidence of total joint arthroplasty is increasing over time since the last decade and expected to be more than 4 million by 2030. As a consequence, the detection of infections associated with surgical interventions is increasing and prosthetic joint infections are representing both a clinically and economically challenging problem. Many pathogens, from bacteria to fungi, elicit the immune system response and produce a polymeric matrix, the biofilm, that serves as their protection. In the last years, the implementation of diagnostic methodologies reduced the error rate and the turn-around time: polymerase chain reaction, targeted or broad-spectrum, and next-generation sequencing have been introduced and they represent a robust approach nowadays that frees laboratories from the unique approach based on culture-based techniques.