title: Prosthetic joint infection: challenges of diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: Arthroplasty for arthritis has led to remarkable improvement in patient quality of life and alleviation of symptoms. A major complication of this surgery is infection. This review examines current understanding of epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of prosthetic joint infections. In particular, this article focuses on the role of biofilm formation in the pathogenesis of device infections and the diagnostic and treatment challenges associated with this process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Australia. t.peel@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Trisha N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Peel
authors.forename: Kirsty L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Buising
authors.forename: Peter F M
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Choong
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors