Detection of periprosthetic infections with use of ribosomal RNA-based polymerase chain reaction.

Background: Previously described molecular biology techniques used to detect periprosthetic infections have been complicated by false-positive results. We have reported the development of a messenger RNA (mRNA)-based procedure to reduce these false-positive results. The limitations of this procedure are the lack of a universal target and reduced sensitivity due to a low concentration of bacterial mRNAs in test samples.