The Diagnosis of Prosthetic Joint Infection: Current Techniques and Emerging Technologies

It is important to diagnose prosthetic joint infection accurately because the medical and surgical treatment of prosthetic joint infection differs from that of other causes of prosthetic joint failure. Recognition of the presence or absence of infection at or before the time of surgery is important in directing the appropriate surgical approach. Recovery and susceptibility testing of the infecting organism are essential to the selection of appropriate anti-infective therapy.