Serum-biomarkers of infection such as CRP and ESR and synovial fluid leucocyte count and neutrophil percentage are useful tests to support the diagnosis of PJI. However, it is important to define the infecting micro-organism to direct antimicrobial therapy. Preoperative synovial fluid culture may establish the diagnosis, but if these cultures are negative, then multiple peri-prosthetic tissue samples should be cultured to identify the pathogen(s).
Diagnosis of Prosthetic Joint Infections (PJI)