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Correct identification of the causative pathogen is of paramount importance for optimal management of infected tissues and prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). But what is the correct sampling and culture strategy? Two recent studies addressed this question.
Van den Bijllaardt and colleagues examined 90 patients who underwent 113 revision arthroplasty procedures for suspected infection. Of these, 76% had symptoms for less than 6 months, implying acute infections. Periprosthetic tissue obtained during surgery (median of 6 specimens) was homogenized in a paddle blender, and 0.1 mL aliquots were cultured on sheep blood, chocolate, and MacConkey and Wilkins-Chalgren agar plates; 0.2 mL was inoculated into thioglycolate broth, and 1 mL was inocula…