Diagnostic performance of swab PCR as an alternative to tissue culture methods for diagnosing infections associated with fracture fixation devices.

Background: Molecular procedures could potentially improve diagnoses of orthopaedic implant-related infections, but are not yet clinically implemented. Analysis of sonication fluid shows the highest sensitivity for diagnosing implant infections in cases of revision surgery with implant removal. However, there remains controversy regarding the best method for obtaining specimens in cases of revision surgery with implant retention.

Rapid exclusion of bacterial arthritis using a glucometer.

Bacterial arthritis is a medical emergency. However, prompt diagnosis and differentiation from non-infectious diseases are challenging. As bacterial metabolism leads to glucose reduction, measurement of synovial fluid glucose seems to be a promising diagnostic approach.

Preliminary results of a new test for rapid diagnosis of septic arthritis with use of leukocyte esterase and glucose reagent strips.

Background: Most currently used tools to diagnose septic arthritis are either not readily available or fail to provide real-time results. Reagent strip tests have identified infections in various body fluids. We hypothesized that combined leukocyte esterase and glucose strip tests can aid in diagnosing septic arthritis in native synovial fluid because (1) leukocyte esterase concentrations would be elevated at the infection site because of secretion by recruited neutrophils, and (2) glucose concentrations would be reduced because of bacterial metabolism.