First evaluation of a commercial multiplex PCR panel for rapid detection of pathogens associated with acute joint infections

Background : prompt recognition and identification of the causative microorganism in acute septic arthritis of native and prosthetic joints is vital to increase the chances of successful treatment. The aim of this study was to independently assess the diagnostic accuracy of the multiplex BIOFIRE ® Joint Infection (JI) Panel (investigational use only) in synovial fluid for rapid diagnosis. Methods : synovial fluid samples were collected at the University Medical Center Groningen from patients who had a clinical suspicion of a native septic arthritis, early acute (post-operative, within 3 months after arthroplasty) periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) or late acute (hematogenous, ≥3 months after arthroplasty) PJI. JI Panel results were compared to infection according to Musculoskeletal Infection Society criteria and culture-based methods as reference standard. Results : a total of 45 samples were analysed. The BIOFIRE JI Panel showed a high specificity (100 %, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 78–100) in all patient categories. Sensitivity was 83 % (95 % CI: 44–97) for patients with a clinical suspicion of native septic arthritis ( n =12), 73 % (95 % CI: 48–89) for patients with a clinical suspicion of a late acute PJI ( n =14), and 30 % (95 % CI: 11–60) for patients with a clinical suspicion of an early acute PJI ( n =19). Conclusion : the results of this study indicate a clear clinical benefit of the BIOFIRE JI Panel in patients with a suspected native septic arthritis and late acute (hematogenous) PJI, but a low clinical benefit in patients with an early acute (post-operative) PJI due to the absence of certain relevant microorganisms, such as Staphylococcus epidermidis , from the panel.