Molecular diagnostics for the detection of musculoskeletal infection

The last decade has seen the crossover of basic molecular research techniques toward clinical application. The use of molecular diagnostics originally was driven by the desire to identify unculturable or fastidious pathogens. Success in this setting has led to new applications aimed at identifying organisms involved in musculoskeletal infection. Recently, polymerase chain reaction techniques have been investigated as to their efficacy in diagnosing septic arthritis and periprosthetic infection. This paper will offer an introduction to molecular diagnostics, a brief review of several techniques, and update their status in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal infection.