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J Knee Surg 2014; 27(04): 249-250
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1384622
Foreword
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Periprosthetic Joint Infection

Javad Parvizi
1   Department of Orthopaedics, Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
Steven F. Harwin
2   Division of Adult Reconstruction and Total Joint Replacement, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York, New York
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
05 July 2014 (online)

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It is probably not an overstatement to declare that periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) continues to be one of the most challenging issues in orthopedics today. This dreaded complication strikes fear in the heart of every surgeon who steps into the operating room and places an unimaginable psychological and economic burden on the patients and the society.

In recent years we have witnessed an elevated effort by the medical community and other authorities to define this burden and identify strategies that may be effective in reducing this expanding burden on the healthcare system. As an example, the Centers for Disease Control recently completed their revision of the guidelines for prevention of surgical site infection. An International Consensus Group on PJI recently held a meeting in Philadelphia to define the challenges in the field and issue best practice guides, wherever possible. The 350-page document issued by the Consensus Group has received worldwide reception and its recommendations endorsed by numerous societies and institutions.[1]

This issue of the Journal of Knee Surgery contains a few articles written by internationally respected experts in the field that touch on major issues related to PJI. These review articles, instilled with institutional data, are written with the intention of conveying the most up-to-date and scientific knowledge related to prevention, diagnosis, and surgical treatment of PJI. The articles have undergone review by various other experts that aimed to enhance their applicability to our everyday practice. I have enjoyed reading them and hope you will share the same sentiment.

 

  • Reference

  • 1 Cats-Baril W, Gehrke T, Huff K, Kendoff D, Maltenfort M, Parvizi J. International consensus on periprosthetic joint infection: description of the consensus process. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2013; 471 (12) 4065-4075
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