{"title":"Evaluation of a fully automated multiplex PCR panel for the microbiological diagnosis of joint infections","authors":"Narumi Ueda , Yasushi Nakamori , Kazuyuki Okuda , Hirokazu Iida , Tetsuro Sugiura , Takanori Saito","doi":"10.1016/j.jos.2025.12.004","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aims</h3><div>Rapid identification of the causative microorganisms of osteoarticular infections is essential for successful treatment. BIOFIRE® FilmArray® Joint Infection Panel (JI panel), a fully automated multiplex PCR panel, can rapidly detect pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes in the synovial joints in patients with acute osteoarticular infections. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic method of the JI panel in patients with osteoarticular infections.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Synovial fluid samples were collected from patients with suspected osteoarticular infections. Fifty-five samples from 49 patients were analysed. The JI panel results were compared with those obtained using conventional culture methods.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The sensitivities of the JI panel and culture for detecting microorganisms were 55 and 61 %, respectively, while the specificities were both 100 %. For patients with osteoarticular infections (n = 23) and positive culture or JI panel, the agreement rate between the JI panel and culture was 65 %. In five samples (22 %), the culture was positive, but the JI panel was negative. In three of the five JI panel-negative specimens (13 %), the bacteria identified in the culture were not included in the panel design. Three culture-negative specimens were JI panel-positive<em>.</em> Significantly higher sensitivity (70 % vs. 55 %; P = 0.008) was observed with the combined JI panel and culture than with the JI panel alone.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The JI panel is a useful technique to identify causative bacteria rapidly and automatically, but the combination of the JI panel and culture methods is recommended because some pathogens are not included in the JI panel.</div></div><div><h3>Level of evidence</h3><div>Diagnostic level III.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16939,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Orthopaedic Science","volume":"31 3","pages":"Pages 731-741"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Orthopaedic Science","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0949265825003501","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/1/6 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ORTHOPEDICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aims
Rapid identification of the causative microorganisms of osteoarticular infections is essential for successful treatment. BIOFIRE® FilmArray® Joint Infection Panel (JI panel), a fully automated multiplex PCR panel, can rapidly detect pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes in the synovial joints in patients with acute osteoarticular infections. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic method of the JI panel in patients with osteoarticular infections.
Methods
Synovial fluid samples were collected from patients with suspected osteoarticular infections. Fifty-five samples from 49 patients were analysed. The JI panel results were compared with those obtained using conventional culture methods.
Results
The sensitivities of the JI panel and culture for detecting microorganisms were 55 and 61 %, respectively, while the specificities were both 100 %. For patients with osteoarticular infections (n = 23) and positive culture or JI panel, the agreement rate between the JI panel and culture was 65 %. In five samples (22 %), the culture was positive, but the JI panel was negative. In three of the five JI panel-negative specimens (13 %), the bacteria identified in the culture were not included in the panel design. Three culture-negative specimens were JI panel-positive. Significantly higher sensitivity (70 % vs. 55 %; P = 0.008) was observed with the combined JI panel and culture than with the JI panel alone.
Conclusion
The JI panel is a useful technique to identify causative bacteria rapidly and automatically, but the combination of the JI panel and culture methods is recommended because some pathogens are not included in the JI panel.
目的:快速鉴定骨关节感染的致病微生物对成功治疗至关重要。BIOFIRE®FilmArray®关节感染面板(JI Panel)是一种全自动多重PCR检测面板,可快速检测急性骨关节感染患者滑膜关节内的病原体和抗菌耐药基因。因此,本研究旨在评价JI面板对骨关节感染患者的诊断方法。方法:采集疑似骨关节感染患者的滑液标本。分析了49例患者的55个样本。将JI面板结果与常规培养方法获得的结果进行比较。结果:JI平板和培养物检测微生物的灵敏度分别为55%和61%,特异性均为100%。对于骨关节感染患者(n = 23),培养或JI面板阳性,JI面板与培养的符合率为65%。在5个样本(22%)中,培养呈阳性,但JI面板呈阴性。在5个JI阴性标本中,有3个(13%)在培养中发现的细菌未包括在样本设计中。3例培养阴性标本为JI面板阳性。与单独使用JI面板相比,联合使用JI面板和培养的灵敏度明显更高(70% vs 55%; P = 0.008)。结论:冀菌法是一种快速、自动鉴定病原菌的技术,但由于冀菌法中不包括某些病原菌,建议将冀菌法与培养法结合使用。证据等级:诊断级III。
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Orthopaedic Science is the official peer-reviewed journal of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association. The journal publishes the latest researches and topical debates in all fields of clinical and experimental orthopaedics, including musculoskeletal medicine, sports medicine, locomotive syndrome, trauma, paediatrics, oncology and biomaterials, as well as basic researches.