title: Improving the treatment of musculoskeletal infections with molecular diagnostics.
abstract: Molecular diagnostic strategies have been implemented to enhance the treatment of musculoskeletal infections. Once primarily a research tool, molecular-based assays, have become accepted clinical tests for the genomic detection of certain pathogens involved in bone and joint infections. Currently, culture remains the gold standard for identifying most organisms causing infection. However, molecular assays are beneficial in clinical cases in which standard culture-based tests are unreliable or untimely. We will review current clinical utility of this emerging technology and roles for assays in the future.
authors.affiliation: Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, 68198, USA. ivantarkin@cs.com
authors.forename: Ivan S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Tarkin
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dunman
authors.forename: Kevin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Garvin
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents