Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) causes a significant burden of disease in the U.S. each year that is expected to increase substantially over the next decade as the number of yearly arthroplasties rises. Features of the clinical presentation, and of the microbiologic causes, of PJI can be important in guiding medical and surgical treatment decisions. These treatment decisions, in turn, impact the outcome of patients with PJI. This presentation will discuss the problem of PJI, and review strategies to minimize their adverse health impact.

Desired Outcomes:

• Understand the epidemiology of PJI.
• Identify patient populations that are at increased risk for developing PJI.
• Review the clinical presentations of PJI.
• Articulate the diagnostic criteria for PJI.
• Discuss the pathophysiology of PJI, including the role of biofilms.
• Understand the microbiologic causes of PJI, and how they affect treatment regimens.
• Review factors that impact decisions in the surgical approach to PJI.
• Recognize how clinical management choices help predict outcome of PJI treatment.

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